Pilot Study Area Research Articles

A novel framework of smart monitoring to face the challenges of tree management in historic gardens

Historic gardens are green spaces characterised by tree stands with several veteran specimens of high artistic and cultural value. Such valuable plant components have to cope with biotic and abiotic stress factors as well as ongoing senescence processes. Maintaining tree health is therefore crucial to preserve their ecosystem services, but also to protect the monument and visitor health. In this context, finding smart, fast and cost-effective management solutions to monitor health and detect critical conditions for both stands and individual veteran trees can promote garden conservation. For this reason, we developed a novel framework based on Sentinel2 imagery, LiDAR sources and automatic cameras to identify risk spots regarding trees in historic gardens. The pilot study area consists of two closed Italian gardens from the 16th century, which were analysed as a unique Historic Garden System (HGS). The tree health status at stand level was assessed using a criterion based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index weighed on tree volume (NDVIt) and validated by a visual crown defoliation assessment. At the tree level, the health status of four veteran trees defined by the NDVIt was also evaluated using green chromatic coordinates (GCC) obtained from digital images acquired by cameras at daily intervals during one growing season. The 33% of the tree population was classified as being in poor health, i.e. “at risk”. Veteran trees classified as “at risk” showed an anticipation of phenological phases and a lower GCC compared to reference trees. Despite variability determined by Sentinel medium resolution, the proposed framework showed good accuracy (0.74) for monitoring historical gardens. The semi-automatic risk point mapping system tested here proved to be effective in facilitating the management of historic gardens, which in turn could be applied in the wider context of urban greening.

Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal variations of surface water quality using water quality indices and GIS

AbstractThere is a need for a comprehensive comparative analysis of spatiotemporal variations in surface water quality, particularly in regions facing multiple pollution sources. While previous research has explored the use of individual water quality indices (WQIs), there is limited understanding of how different WQIs perform in assessing water quality dynamics in complex environmental settings. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of three WQIs (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and System for Evaluation of the Quality of rivers (SEQ-Eau) and a national water quality regulation in assessing water quality dynamics. The pilot study area is the Acısu Creek in Antalya City of Turkey, where agricultural practices and discharge of treated wastewater effluents impair the water quality. A year-long intensive monitoring study was conducted includig on-site measurements, analysis of numerous physicochemical and bacteriological parameters. The CCME and SEQ-Eau indices classified water quality as excellent/good at the upstream, gradually deteriorating to very poor downstream, showing a strong correlation. However, the NSF index displayed less accuracy in evaluating water quality for certain monitoring stations/sessions due to eclipsing and rigidity problems. The regulatory approach, which categorized water quality as either moderate or good for different sampling sessions/stations, was also found less accurate. The novelty of this study lies in its holistic approach to identify methodological considerations that influence the performance of WQIs. Incorporating statistical analysis, artificial intelligence or multi-criteria decision-making methods into WQIs is recommended for enhanced surface water quality assessment and management strategies.

How can optimized forest management plan regulate noise levels from wind turbines?

Wind energy has emerged as one of the most economically viable renewable energy options in the transition towards a fossil-free society. In Finland, wind farms, consisting of several wind turbines, are commonly located in forested areas, prompting concerns about their potential audio-visual impacts. Despite this, research into how forests might mitigate the adverse effects of wind farms are limited. Forests can effectively serve as noise barrier, with their noise attenuation capacity varying based on the forest’s characteristics. Specifically, the attenuation level depends on the sound’s travel distance through the forest, as well as the size and density of trees. Our study findings indicate that forests can provide up to 10 dB of additional noise attenuation. This was achieved by integrating a forest structure-based model into forest planning calculations, aimed at mitigating noise pollution from wind turbines. Incorporating this noise model as a management objective significantly reduced noise levels in the pilot study area, outperforming traditional business-as-usual management strategies. Furthermore, adapting a combination of uneven-aged and even-aged forest management approaches resulted in more forested landscape, which was more effective in mitigating higher noise levels. Our results contribute important insights that, along with further research, can guide future forest planning and management towards enhanced sustainability.

Protecting wilderness or rewilding? An ecoregion-based approach to identifying priority areas for the protection and restoration of natural processes for biodiversity conservation

Amidst the global decline in biodiversity, there are growing calls for more ambitious conservation targets and practices, including a renewed focus on protecting and restoring natural processes. However, little is known about suitable areas for process-oriented conservation and its different strategies. In this paper, we identify priority areas for process-oriented conservation following an ecoregion-based approach. Using the Alpine Space programme area as a pilot study area, a Wilderness Quality Index is calculated and mapped based on spatial indicators reflecting variations in naturalness, human impact, remoteness, and ruggedness. To identify priority areas for process-oriented conservation, the 10% of areas with the highest wilderness quality are identified for each ecoregion (‘ecoregional approach’) and compared with the identification of the 10% wildest areas of the entire study area (‘conventional approach’). The results show significant differences in priority areas between the two approaches, with those identified by the ecoregional approach being of lower wilderness quality, more dispersed across the study region and different elevation classes, and smaller in size. The ecoregional approach results in a greater coverage of ecosystem- and species-level diversity, yet it highlights a greater need for complementing the protection of wilderness in less modified regions with rewilding initiatives and the expansion of the protected area network in ecoregions with significant human activity. Based on these findings, we discuss the potential and challenges that an ecoregion-based identification of priority areas brings for biodiversity conservation, protection and restoration practice, and local communities. The ecoregion-based approach and the findings of this study can inform initiatives under the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, in particular the target to ‘strictly protect’ 10% of the EU’s land and sea.

A case study for best suitable methods of monitoring demographic structure in cervid populations to predict increasing forest damages

The overall increase of ungulate populations in modern Europe has contributed to conflicts in national economies, particularly between game management and the forestry sector. This study assessed damage risks to young pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) and aspen (Populus tremula L.) stands at two spatial scales. One level assessed the interaction between sex-age structure of cervid populations, measured by pellet group density, and forest damages, measured as the percentage of heavily browsed trees in 2040 stand surveys distributed proportionally throughout the country. The second level compared pellet counts and trail-camera-based records of moose (Alces alces L.) and red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) presence in a pilot study area. We examined whether 1) there is a correlation between damage amount and ungulate population structure and 2) are the data from trail cameras suitable for wider use in monitoring ungulate population structure. The study confirmed significantly higher moose pellet group densities in pine than in spruce and aspen stands. Pine damages were greater in stands with higher moose pellet group density, especially with female moose prevailing over male moose density index. The red deer pellet group densities were significantly higher in heavily damaged pine and spruce stands, regardless of sex-age structure. In most cases, there were no statistically significant differences between the two survey methods of ungulate population structure by using pellet count transects and trail camera fixations. Both methods provide comparable data on sex-age structure in moose and red deer populations if seasonal and habitat-predicted biases are considered. However, trail cameras are more widely applicable and easier to use by hunters than pellet counts.

A study on pipe failure analysis in water distribution systems using logistic regression

Abstract This study presents a pipe failure analysis that aims to identify key factors affecting pipe failure in a pilot study area (PSA). For this purpose, pipe failures that occurred in the PSA were recorded for 2 years. Recorded pipe failures were integrated into the existing geographical information systems of the PSA and then visualized. Then, the logistic regression model that calculates failure probability with unbalanced and small- and medium-sized data was performed to analyze pipe failures. Pipe material, age, diameter, burst pressure, and average water pressure are the factors used in the study. The developed model achieved a success rate of 70.1%, suggesting that it can predict a considerable portion of pipe failures with a relatively satisfactory performance. Findings show that the failure probability of pipes with an age greater than 20 years is 1.675 times higher than that of pipes with an age less than 20 years. Moreover, polyvinyl chloride pipes are 5.265 times and high-density polyethylene pipes are 9.027 times more likely to fail than ductile pipes. Further research should delve into the impacts of the number of service connections, pipe lengths, and traffic load on pipe failures.

Female entrepreneurship and the care of places: towards a map of gender practices in Naples

What kind of initiative is gendered enterprise? Do projects that make art a driver for local development have a gendered relationship with the spaces they manage and the contexts that host them? Starting from these research questions, the article offers a narrative of the action developed to collect experiences and activation practices that in Naples have triggered, through art, processes of redevelopment and/or rethinking and adaptive reuse of architecture and open spaces in marginal contexts of the city. For this in-progress mapping, the ‘rioni’ (districts) Sanità and Forcella were selected as pilot study areas, since their features allow for the experimentation of the survey protocol. In this complex context of the historical city, different kinds of female enterprise, apt to generate practices of care for space and spaces of care, are being explored, outlining the contribution of new feminisms to the city of social inclusion and spatial equity. The interviews with the key actors collected during a field survey performed using a mixed methodology, the comparison with similar experiences and the participation in actions in space turn the spotlight on opportunities, difficulties, unleashed energies and latent resources. The mapping of gender-sensitive culture-led practices aims at shedding light on issues and on networking skills apt to nurture generative and regenerative capacity.

Developing a mapping procedure for urban forests using online map services and Sentinel-2A images

Accurate area statistics at the local government level are important for the scientific management of urban forests. A more consistent and robust mapping of urban forests can enable a comparison of the size and quality management guidelines at major cities in Asia. However, few administrative statistics have employed these scientific techniques. Therefore, a cover map of urban forests focusing on their types is needed for the quantitative and qualitative estimation and evaluation of urban forests. This study presents an approach for mapping urban forest cover for 2021 using Sentinel remote sensing images and aerial photographs from commercial maps. Cover maps of urban forests at a city scale were developed for three pilot study areas in Korea’s capital area. Labeling was performed for deciduous forests, coniferous forests, grasslands, wetlands, bare land, croplands, urban areas, and water bodies. The land cover classification was performed using machine learning models, including random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVM), and gradient tree boost classifier (GBT), and a comparison was made among them. All three methods performed well in the three study areas; the RF model was simple to use, and the SVM was better at detecting forest connections. The proposed mapping method, which focuses on forest types in cities, can be used to compare the area and connection of urban forests in cities.

A Study on Factors Influencing Ground Subsidence and a Risk Analysis Method Using the Attributes of Sewer Pipes

In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in road subsidence accidents in urban areas, threatening the safety of citizens. Various road facilities, such as water and sewage pipes, and telecommunication facilities are buried under roads, and the aging of these facilities is one of the factors causing road subsidence. In particular, old sewer pipes are a primary cause of road subsidence. However, most maintenance work on such facilities is carried out based on how long ago they were buried underground, without considering the risk of road subsidence caused by them. Therefore, this study aims to present a reliable method to assess road subsidence risk that considers various sewer pipe specifications and the environment surrounding them. To derive the factors influencing subsidence, sewer pipes near the target region, where road subsidence occurs the most, were extracted to analyze the correlation between road subsidence, pipe integrity, and the surrounding environment. An effective analysis method was selected by comparing logistic regression analysis and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) analysis, and a weighted road subsidence risk assessment method was proposed by evaluating the importance of factors affecting ground subsidence. Its applicability was examined by comparing actual road subsidence data and analyzing risk in a pilot study area to validate the reliability of the proposed methodology. The results showed that it was possible to make reliable predictions of road subsidence risk areas.

A combined approach for the estimation of groundwater leaching potential and environmental impacts of pesticides for agricultural lands

Pesticide pollution can degrade the quality of land, water, and air, and imposes risks on people, flora and fauna. Pesticides are frequently chosen based on their agricultural effectiveness and cost, rather than their potential environmental impacts. The aim of this study is to present a combined approach to estimate the leaching potential and environmental impacts of pesticides for agricultural lands. The pilot study area (PSA) is the agricultural plain of the Lower Aksu Stream Basin in Antalya - Turkey. The groundwater of the agricultural plain contributes to around half of the flow rate of the stream. The first phase of the combined approach involved pesticide monitoring to screen the target pesticides, the second phase involved evaluating the physicochemical properties of the target pesticides and estimating their leaching potential using several indices, and the third phase involved environmental impact analysis of the target pesticides using the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) risk indicator. Additionally, Principal Component Analysis was conducted to examine the correlations between physicochemical parameters of pesticides and the leaching potential index results. By the application of the combined approach, 45 target pesticides were identified for the PSA and the indices were consistent to estimate similar leaching potentials for the same pesticides. Moreover, the computed EIQ-Field Use Rates provided valuable information to rank target pesticides according to their environmental impacts on consumer, farmworker and ecology. The applied methodology provided a practical approach to select pesticides with the least leaching potential and environmental impacts to protect water quality and ecosystem health.

On the Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Urban Areas Using Census Data: The Lisbon Metropolitan Area as a Pilot Study Area

ABSTRACT This paper presents a procedure for the application of an index-based vulnerability assessment method to the seismic risk assessment of 292,978 reinforced concrete and 152,916 unreinforced masonry buildings in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA). A singular innovation of this proposed methodology is that it is tailored to be fed with data from the 2011 national population and housing Census. The vulnerability results are then combined with the seismic hazard component into a GIS tool used to map seismic risk across the LMA. The spatial representation of these results highlights the areas of different levels of vulnerability and risk.

Biomass carbon stocks and stock changes in managed hedgerows

Landscape features, such as hedgerows, can play a role in enhancing terrestrial carbon (C) sinks, especially in North-western Europe, where they form a large part of the agricultural landscape. To date, there are few studies relating aerial imagery to ground-truthed biomass measurements and relating changes in biomass to hedgerow management. This study sought to develop relationships between measured biomass of hedgerows and digital elevation model (DEM) data from drones and aircraft. Furthermore, changes in hedgerow above-ground and below-ground biomass stocks were assessed using a systematic grid sample, DEM data and developed volume-biomass regression models. The developed inventory framework was then applied to a pilot study area of 419,701 ha in Ireland.Robust relationships were developed relating DEM data to volume and above-ground biomass. Model equations were also developed linking above-ground and below-ground biomass. However, these were less robust due to the confounding impacts of hedgerow management intensity, hedgerow type and dominant species. Above-ground biomass density was linearly correlated with hedge volume. Wider, less intensively managed, irregular hedges exhibit a higher biomass stocks per km, when compared to regular, more intensively managed hedgerows. When the models were extrapolated to the county level, hedgerow biomass C pools for Co Wexford and Waterford are suggested to be a net emission of −0.3 tC ha−1 year−1 due to hedgerow removals and management. Flailing or coppicing of hedgerows, in particular irregular profile hedgerows, had the largest impact on the biomass C balance in the pilot study area. Re-introduction of traditional management practices such as layering and increasing the allowable hedgerow width in areas qualifying for farm payments could be considered with the aim of increasing the maximum sink potential of established hedgerows.

From Rockfall Observation to Operational Solutions: Nearly 20 years of Cryo-gravitational Hazard Studies in Mont-Blanc Massif

The enhanced rockfall frequency (V > 100 m3) first noticed in the European Alps, has motivated investigations on high mountain rock walls and rock wall permafrost since the 2000s. Mont-Blanc massif (MBM) has become a pilot study area thanks to the wealth of data and knowledge on rockfall and permafrost dynamics acquired through successive research projects. Statistical analysis of rockfall distribution (> 1300 events inventoried between 2007 and 2021) shows that they are related to permafrost distribution and increasing atmospheric temperature, opening promising perspective for developing forecasting tools to support mountain practitioners in their risk mitigation strategy. However, understanding how rock wall destabilizations develop is challenged by the variety of potentially involved thermo-hydro-mechanical processes. To face these challenges, research currently carried out in the MBM focuses on water infiltration and circulation processes in frozen rock walls by combining advanced numerical modelling approaches and ad hoc field surveys. The coupling of models simulating heat and water transport with geoelectrical imaging methods could allow assessment of ground water/ice distributions and contents that is highly relevant for geotechnical purposes. Concurrently, the combination of acquired data and knowledge in integrative approaches of landscape changes and hazards involving permafrost degradation, glacier retreat, possible lake formation and rock wall destabilization appears as an essential basis for land-planning concerns. Finally, thermal and hydrological interactions between rock wall permafrost and ice bodies nestled on rock faces (ice aprons and hanging glaciers) is another direction of research to be pursued with cross-disciplinary implications.

Sınırlı Eğitim Verileri Durumunda Orman Yangını Duyarlılık Haritalamasında Makine Öğrenimi Performansının Değerlendirilmesi

Wildfire susceptibility mapping can be affected by several factors. One of the most influential factors is inventory data, its extent, format, and reliability. This study aims to evaluate if the Support Vector Machine (SVM) has the capability to detect and map the forest fire susceptible areas under limited training data conditions. To test this hypothesis wildfires in Mugla province located in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey have been selected as a pilot study area. The wildfire started in Mugla, on 29 July 2021, that considerably affected the residential areas, animals, and vast areas of forests. Fourteen wildfire influential variables have been used in the analysis as independent variables. Accuracy assessment has been implemented using the Area Under the Curve (AUC) technique. Success rate and prediction rates were (91.42%) and (87.69%) respectively. According to the prediction rate, SVM successfully recognized other burnt areas as the most susceptible regions.

Designing and implementing a location-based model to identify areas suitable for multi-renewable energy development for supplying electricity to agricultural wells

The purpose of this study is to design and implement a spatial model to identify optimal areas for energy sources (solar power plant (SPS), wind turbine generator (WTG), Distributed Gas Turbine-Generators (DGTG), and direct connection to power distribution system (PDS) to supply electricity to agricultural wells using a combination of data-driven methods and geographic information system (GIS). This study used 13 spatial criteria to identify suitable areas for SPS, 11 for WTG, 11 for DGTG, and 3 for PDS. A combination of data-driven decision-making (DDDM) and GIS was used for data analysis. The results of the present study showed that in the pilot study area, solar energy has a higher potential than other energies. Also, the results of the sensitivity analysis showed that changing the weight of the criteria has no significant effect on the model outputs and clearly proves the stability of the proposed model. The hybrid power plant scenarios showed that had the highest number of pixels suitable for development were associated with double and triple hybrid power solutions generator, respectively. These were hybrid SPS and DGTG and hybrid SPS, PDS, and DGTG systems.

Evaluation of a Sustainable Urban Transportation System in Terms of Traffic Congestion—A Case Study in Taxila, Pakistan

Traffic delays are not wholly new and are a well-known problem that impacts many of the world’s populations through disruptions and pollution. The rising urbanization and quantity of powered road vehicles necessitate a greater traffic control demand to maintain flow and avoid jams. In order to understand the notion of sustainable transportation, this study first examined sustainable transportation systems. This research then assessed Pakistan’s present transportation infrastructure and urban transportation to find the most reasonable and sustainable alternative to reduce congestion. The Taxila intersection was utilized as a pilot study area because of its vicinity to Pakistan’s leading economic hubs (i.e., industrial estates and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi). The study used multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques, including the fuzzy AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR, and traffic simulation software, to determine the optimal solution for a more sustainable transportation system, and reducing traffic congestion. A pairwise comparison of the criteria and alternatives was made using a survey. This survey was used to look into the perspectives of various stakeholders and experts. The outcomes of the fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS and fuzzy AHP-VIKOR revealed that a flyover is the best alternative. In contrast, the best alternative, according to the software was a parking area. Ultimately, we assessed our results using the literature, and site observation, and concluded that a parking area would be the most sustainable alternative in the Taxila intersection.

A case study on integrated management of water losses in Antalya, Turkey

Abstract In this study, effects of the combination of meter replacement and active leakage control on real and apparent losses are investigated. Generally, water meter replacement campaigns, SCADA system operation, data analysis studies and physical leak detection activities are carried out by different units in water utilities. Within the scope of this study, the studies carried out by different units of the water utility were carried out in an integrated manner in the same period and the obtained data sets were analysed together. Thus, water losses, which were at the level of 52% in the pilot study area (PSA), were reduced to 35%. When the volumes of water supplied to the system before and after the study are compared, the volumes after the study were decreased. Also, water losses in the PSA have been reduced by 17%.

Earthquake-induced landslide monitoring and survey by means of InSAR

Abstract. This study uses interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques to identify and track earthquake-induced landslides as well as lands prone to landslides, by detecting deformations in areas struck by earthquakes. The pilot study area investigates the Mila region in Algeria, which suffered significant landslides and structural damage (earthquake: Mw 5, 7 August 2020). DInSAR analysis shows normal interferograms with small fringes. The coherence change detection (CCD) and DInSAR analysis were able to identify many landslides and ground deformations also confirmed by Sentinel-2 optical images and field inspection. The most important displacement (2.5 m), located in the Kherba neighborhood, caused severe damage to dwellings. It is worth notice that CCD and DInSAR are very useful since they were also able to identify ground cracks surrounding a large zone (3.94 km2 area) in Grarem City, whereas the Sentinel-2 optical images could not detect them. Although displacement time-series analysis of 224 interferograms (April 2015 to September 2020) performed using LiCSBAS did not detect any pre-event geotechnical precursors, the post-event analysis shows a 110 mm yr−1 subsidence velocity in the back hillside of Kherba.

Fostering the Resiliency of Urban Landscape through the Sustainable Spatial Planning of Green Spaces

Background: It has been recognized that urban green spaces play a crucial role in providing many landscape services. The research aimed at identifying the main knowledge gaps in this framework and to support urban planning, taking into account the spatial configuration of green areas through a pilot study area, and mapping urban landscape services. Methods: In this research, (1) a systematic review, analyzed through a network analysis; (2) an urban pilot study to map the Urban Green Index and, jointly, the spatial composition and configuration of urban green areas, through the integration of three landscape metrics; and (3) the mapping of Urban Landscape Services Index have been carried out. Results: The 37% of the reviewed articles focused on regulating services, while the network analysis identified four clusters. The total Urban Green Index was 26%, and some districts showed a percentage that surpassed it. The total overall Green Connectivity Index was 21%. Some districts were the best providers of landscape services. Conclusions: This research was in line with the EU Joint Science for Policy Report suggesting giving emphasis to the spatial pattern map of green spaces in European cities to provide spatial data available for decision-makers in relation to GI deployment.

Análisis de la vulnerabilidad del turismo y el ocio ante enjambres de medusas en la Costa del Sol oriental. Una perspectiva multiescalar y multitemporal.

A methodological essay is presented to assess vulnerability of beaches´ human activity caused by jellyfish blooms arrivals. The pilot study area are the beaches of Torre del Mar and Caleta de Vélez (Velez-Málaga, Spain). The methodology proposes various criteria to assess the vulnerability of the tourism sector at various levels of scale, both in spatial and temporal dimensions. There are three spatial levels: scale of detail (the beach itself), socioeconomic influence area and municipal scale. On the other hand, the short and long-term consequences are estimated at a temporary level. Fundamentally, user surveys, interviews with economic actors in the area and analysis of statistical records are used. In general, it is observed that part of the economic activity related to the beaches improves in the short term with the presence of jellyfish while in the long term it suffers.