Field Survey Research Articles

Are farmers willing to pay for low-carbon agriculture? Evidence from China

PurposeReducing carbon emissions in agriculture is vital for fostering sustainable agricultural growth and promoting ecological well-being in rural areas. The adoption of Low-Carbon Agriculture (LCA) by farmers holds great potential to accomplish substantial reductions in carbon emissions. The purpose of this study is to explore the farmers' preference and willingness to engage in LCA.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs the Choice Experiment (CE) method to examine farmers' preferences and willingness to adopt LCA, using field survey data of 544 rural farmers in the Weihe River Basin between June and July 2023. We further investigate differences in willingness to pay (WTP) and personal characteristics among different farmer categories.FindingsThe empirical results reveal that farmers prioritize government-led initiatives providing pertinent technical training as a key aspect of the LCA program. Farmers' decisions to participate in LCA are influenced by factors including age, gender, education and the proportion of farm income in household income, with their evaluations further shaped by subjective attitudes and habits. Notably, we discovered that nearly half of the farmers exhibit indifference towards LCA attributes.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to investigate farmers' attitudes toward LCA from their own perspectives and to analyze the factors influencing them from both subjective and objective standpoints. This study presents a fresh perspective for advocating LCA, bolstering rural ecology and nurturing sustainable development in developing nations.

Ecosystem Services and Public Perception of Green Infrastructure from the Perspective of Urban Parks: A Case Study of Luoyang City, China

As one form of urban green infrastructure, city parks provide essential ecosystem services and serve as a vital link connecting citizens with natural ecosystems. The public, as the primary beneficiaries of urban park ecosystem services, plays a crucial role in guiding the improvement and development trends of urban park planning. Most existing studies assess the comprehensive value of green spaces from a macro scale, with few focusing on the cultural and regulatory ecosystem services of urban parks and public perception of these services at the park level. This study targets 11 typical urban parks in Luoyang City, collecting 771 samples through field mapping and surveys. It analyzes users’ socio-demographic characteristics, perception abilities, usage preferences, and service satisfaction, linking these subjective factors with objective elements of the park environment, such as fitness and recreational facilities. The results indicate that respondents with knowledge of ecosystem services are better able to evaluate and understand services such as air pollution reduction and noise reduction in parks, while those without such knowledge tend to focus more on services that they can intuitively perceive, such as biodiversity conservation and microclimate regulation. Additionally, the middle-income group exhibits a higher level of awareness of park ecosystem services, which depends on their active social participation. The findings of this study suggest that enhancing public understanding of ecosystem services through environmental education is key to improving the quality of urban ecosystems.

Yield Gap Analysis and Impact Assessment of Ginger in Arunachal Pradesh, India

The ginger is a prominent crop in Arunachal Pradesh. Beside the good climatic conditions, farmers are not getting proper income due to old variety and unscientific cultivation practices. Keeping in views the things, Krishi Vigyan Tirap (KVK) conducted a demonstration on ginger (variety: Nadia) at selected villages in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh during 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively. Before demonstration a field survey was carried out to know the ground reality farmer’s practice of ginger. During first years of demonstration the total 15 numbers of plots were demonstrated having per plot size of 0.20 ha 0,20 ha while 20 plots were second years with same size of plots. The demonstration yield was recorded as 118 q/ha & 142 as compared 99 & 108 q/ha respectively. The B:C ratio was 5.68 & 7.01 as compared 3.27 & 3.66.

Mengoptimalkan Pengembangan Desa Wisata Jeruk Manis melalui Pembuatan Tourist Information dan Fasilitas Changing Room

Jeruk Manis Village is a village resulting from the expansion of Kembang Kuning Village, after its expansion Jeruk Manis established itself with new branding as a tourist village that is already known for its natural beauty and green rice fields that refresh the eyes. In its efforts to build a tourist village that promises visitors, Jeruk Manis has not provided adequate facilities such as the lack of tourist information for visitors, as well as inadequate changing rooms in several tourist attractions. Therefore, the purpose of KKN PMD University of Mataram for the July-August 2024 period is to optimize tourism in Jeruk Manis Village through making Tourist Information and improving Changing Room facilities. The implementation method used is field survey, location planning, design or design, and program implementation (production and promotion). The results obtained from the making of Tourist Information and Changing Room improvements have a stronger impact on the progress of the branding of the Jeruk Manis Tourism Village, with Tourist Information being a reference for foreign visitors when visiting Jeruk Manis Village. In addition, the placement of the Changing Room made of bamboo which adds to the attractiveness also ensures the comfort of visitors.

Seismic risk assessment based on residential building stock and field survey results: a case study of 3 cities in Shanxi Province

IntroductionBuildings that collapse or are damaged by earthquakes are responsible for the majority of earthquake-related casualties. High-precision building data are the key to improving the accuracy of risk assessments of earthquake disaster loss. Many countries and regions have also proposed varying regional building exposure models, but most of these models are still based on administrative-level (city or county) statistical data; furthermore, they cannot accurately reflect the differences among buildings in different towns or villages.MethodsAlthough field investigation-based “township to township” methods can obtain more accurate building inventory data, considering costs and timeliness, remote sensing and other diverse data should be combined to acquire building data. Based on the field survey data of three cities in shanxi Province, combined with Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data, this study is conducted on building inventory data. Data regarding the proportion of each building type and corresponding lethality level in each township are obtained based on the classification of building height, and the overall lethality level at the building level and township level is calculated on this basis.ResultsThe fitting results between the calculated results and the field survey results are good, the error is within 0.15, and the fitting R2 values of Xian, Baoji and Ankang are 0.6552, 0.5788 and 0.5937, respectively. Therefore, an earthquake disaster loss risk assessment is conducted based on the building level.DiscussionThe findings indicate that the risk of casualties caused by the same building type can vary by city. Generally, the areas with high disaster loss risk in the three cities are distributed mainly in urban areas; the disaster loss risk in the newly built areas of each city is relatively low. According to the quantitative assessment results for each city, Xi’an has the highest loss risk, while Baoji and Ankang have the same loss risk. Based on the method constructed in this paper, we can realize the quantitative assessment of earthquake disaster loss risk at the building level to better target pre-earthquake emergency preparation and post-earthquake auxiliary decision-making.

Investigation of the Relationship between Topographic and Forest Stand Characteristics Using Aerial Laser Scanning and Field Survey Data

The article thoroughly investigates the relationships between terrain features and tree measurements derived from aerial laser scanning (ALS) data and field surveys in a 1067-hectare forested area. A digital elevation model (DEM) was generated from ALS data, which was then used to derive additional layers such as slope, aspect, topographic position index (TPI), and landforms. The authors developed a mathematical procedure to determine the radii for the topographic position index. The canopy height model was created, and individual trees were segmented using a novel voxel aggregation method, allowing for the calculation of tree height and crown size. Accuracy assessments were conducted between ALS-derived data and field-collected data. Terrain variability within each forest unit was evaluated using characteristics such as standard deviation, entropy, and frequency. The relationships between tree height and the derived topographic features within forest subcompartments, as well as the correlation between the height yield map for the entire area and the TPI layer, were analysed. The authors found strong correlation between the topographic position index and tree heights in both cases. The presented remote-sensing-based methodology and the results can be effectively used in digital forest site mapping, complemented by field sampling and laboratory soil analyses, and, as final goal, in carbon stock assessment.

Modelling Water Availability in Livestock Ponds by Remote Sensing: Enhancing Management in Iberian Agrosilvopastoral Systems

Extensive livestock farming plays a crucial role in the economy of agrosilvopastoral systems of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula (known as dehesas and montados in Spanish and Portuguese, respectively) as well as providing essential ecosystem services. The existence of livestock in these areas heavily relies on the effective management of natural resources (annual pastures and water stored in ponds built ad hoc). The present work aims to assess the water availability in these ponds by developing equations to estimate the water volume based on the surface area, which can be quantified by means of remote sensing techniques. For this purpose, field surveys were carried out in September 2021, 2022 and 2023 at ponds located in representative farms, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with RGB sensors and survey-grade global navigation satellite systems and inertial measurement units (GNSS-IMU). These datasets were used to produce high-resolution 3D models by means of Structure-from-Motion and Multi-View Stereo photogrammetry, facilitating the estimation of the stored water volume within a Geographic Information System (GIS). The Volume–Area–Height relationships were calibrated to allow conversions between these parameters. Regression analyses were performed using the maximum volume and area data to derive mathematical models (power and quadratic functions) that resulted in significant statistical relationships (r2 > 0.90, p < 0.0001). The root mean square error (RMSE) varied from 1.59 to 17.06 m3 and 0.16 to 3.93 m3 for the power and quadratic function, respectively. Both obtained equations (i.e., power and quadratic general functions) were applied to the estimated water storage in similar water bodies using available aerial or satellite imagery for the period from 1984 to 2021.

Defining and characterizing the phenomenon of river-bottom tearing scour (RBTS): A case study of the Middle Yellow River

River-bottom tearing scour (RBTS) in natural rivers refers to the incipient motion and transport processes of clay blocks formed by fine cohesive sediment after deposition and consolidation in riverbeds. The RBTS phenomenon can lead to significant channel erosion and changes in river planview morphology, and has, thus, attracted the attention of hydrologists and engineers. In the study, a new determination measure (K) for the occurrence of a RBTS event is derived based on the theoretical expression for the critical incipient velocity of the clay block, , which is a combination of the coefficients of the velocity (i.e., is a local velocity coefficient), lift force (i.e., CL is the lift coefficient), and clay block size (i.e., is the ratio of block thickness to length). Furthermore, to explain river behavior during a RBTS event, the Fugu, Xiaobeiganliu, and Weihe river reaches in the Middle Yellow River (MYR) were selected as study areas. Analysis of hydrological data from 1950 to 2023 in the examined reaches implies that a single discharge or sediment threshold cannot predict the occurrence of RBTS. The cross-sectional erosion and deposition volume (CEDV) and the migration intensity of the channel thalweg (MI) also were calculated at the section and reach scales for the examined reaches during the RBTS events. It was observed that RBTS typically causes significant channel erosion originating from the most upstream portion of the study reach with CEDV values ranging from 61 to 6,034 m2, while MI values during the RBTS events were close to the multi-year average for the study reach. Finally, a flume experiment simulating RBTS was done to discuss and verify the threshold value of K. Field survey and experimental results indicated that RBTS occurs if K > 0.5, thus, providing theoretical support for the prediction and prevention of RBTS.

Earth Observation Data Utilisation for Rock Phosphate Exploration in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT In this study, we processed Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data using partial subpixel mapping methods for delineating surface occurrences of fertilizer mineral i.e., phosphorite in dolomite and carbonate-bearing chert in the Aravalli Supergroup. We applied feature-oriented principal component analysis to derive an image composite for delineating the spatial extent of carbonate rich zones within the Lunaveda Group of rocks. Subsequently, we used image spectra of the surface exposure of rock phosphate of the existing mine at Khatama area as the reference for implementing adaptive coherence estimator (ACE) algorithm in the VNIR -SWIR bands of ASTER data to derive the abundance map of phosphorite. We confirmed the presence of phosphate in the identified phosphate anomaly zones during field surveys by implementing rapid colorimetric test that is proven for identifying the presence of phosphate in the samples. We also used the available surface geochemical data of P2O5 to establish the synergy between geochemical data and identified geochemical anomaly.

A comparative study of using geophysical methods for imaging subsurface voids of various sizes and at different depths

Subsurface voids pose significant geohazards, underscoring the need for their timely detection in order to mitigate the associated hazard. We report on a field study aimed at the comparative assessment of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), seismic refraction tomography (SRT), and the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) for void mapping in karstic regions. The field surveys were conducted at a site in central Texas, of typical karstic geomorphology, and involved the co-located deployment of ERT, SRT and MASW arrays. Post-surveying, boreholes were drilled at select locations for verification purposes. It is shown that MASW demonstrated limited ability to resolve voids due to its inherent theoretical limitations. In contrast, ERT revealed high-resistivity air-filled zones, and low-resistivity soil-filled regions, which aligned well with post-survey borehole logs, although deeper voids remained largely undetected. SRT clearly delineated voids through velocity reductions, but smoothing effects overestimated void velocities. Using ERT and SRT jointly provided improved void characterization compared to single-method-based interpretations, with ERT determining void type and SRT delineating boundaries. Despite the relative success of the joint ERT-SRT application, it is evident that without the corroboration provided by invasive testing, definitive void localization and characterization under arbitrary site conditions remains elusive.

Improving near-stall performance of axial flow compressors using variable rotor tandem stage. A steady analysis

This paper investigates the idea of substituting the first stage of a conventional axial-flow compressor and its inlet guide vane (IGV) row with a variable rotor tandem (VRT) stage to reduce the size and weight of axial-flow compressors. It is expected that a tandem stage gains higher pressure ratio than a conventional stage, and simultaneously, its variable stagger rotor provides more flexibility in handling unsteady phenomena at low mass flow rates. A three-dimensional numerical model based on Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations is developed to conduct this investigation. To validate the numerical model, experimental tests are conducted on a tandem single-stage axial-flow compressor test bench in the Dana laboratory of Amirkabir University of Technology, to compare the performance map with numerical results. The validated numerical model is then employed to simulate the performance of both front and aft variable rotor blades. The proposed tandem stage effectively performs the IGV duty, suppresses instabilities at low mass flow rates, and eventually extends the compressor's stable operational range. This proves that a VRT stage is an efficient active surge-control system tool. The detailed survey of the three-dimensional flow field reveals that the aft tandem rotor blade stagger angle is more effective in increasing the stall margin and decreasing the minimum operational mass flow rate than the front row of blades. It is observed that when the aft blades rotate in the direction of decreasing the tandem blades' gap area, the flow momentum increases and causes the compressor stability at lower mass flow rates.

Predicating risk habitats of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of schistosoma japonicum under multiple environmental drivers

BackgroundOncomelania hupensis (O. hupensis), the unique intermediate host for Schistosoma japonicum, exerts a substantial influence on the risk of schistosomiasis. Being amphibious freshwater snails, the growth, development, and reproductive distribution of O. hupensis are intricately tied to climatic environmental variables. This study aims to predict O. hupensis habitat risks along the Yangtze River in China, considering multiple environmental factors. MethodsData pertaining to the distribution of O. hupensis, including both presence and absence records, with the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River basin for the period 2017–2021, were retrieved from the Jiangsu Schistosomiasis Control Information Platform. Ten machine learning algorithms and an ensemble model were used to explore environmental drivers. Three datasets (Snail_CLIM, Snail_TOPO, and Snail_ALL) incorporating climatic and topographic variables were examined for their impact on model accuracy. We conducted validation using the AUC and TSS metrics. Moreover, we utilized the data from the 2022 snail field survey for model external validation. ResultsThe findings demonstrate that snail_ALL, which incorporates both climatic and topographic variables, exhibits superior performance (ensemble model: sensitivity = 98.000, specificity = 95.960, AUC = 0.994). Among the ten model algorithms, Random Forest (RF) exhibited the highest degree of accuracy and stability (Snail_ALL: AUC = 1.000 ± 0.000, TSS = 0.985 ± 0.005). The key environmental factors affecting snail distribution included the distance to the nearest river, elevation, annual precipitation, and annual average pressure. High-risk areas manifested as two distinct concentrations: downstream of the Luhe District in Nanjing and at the confluence of Zhenjiang and Yangzhou. The results of 2022 field validation showed that over 90 % of the data points for snail breeding sites are concentrated in medium to high-risk areas. ConclusionBy selecting pertinent environmental variables and employing ensemble modeling techniques, we can accurately predict O.hupensis habitats. The resulting risk distribution map for snail habitats not only provides valuable insights but also serves as a guiding tool for targeted monitoring and control measures. The holds particular significance within the contest of the Yangtze River protection and restoration projects.

Discoloration Evaluation of Stone Cultural Heritage Based on Hyperspectral Imaging

ABSTRACT Discoloration poses a serious threat to stone cultural heritage, making accurate assessment crucial for its protection and repair. Current detection methods are limited by coverage, slow speed and direct contact with cultural heritage. To address these issues, a spectral index based on the correlation between spectral reflectance and brightness was developed to identify discoloration boundaries in stone cultural heritage. Color difference ΔE* was then calculated to assess the deterioration of sandstone cultural heritage such as Leshan Giant Buddha over recent years. The results show that a strong correlation between the spectral index and the color changes on the Buddha’s face, with the three-band index using 530, 550, and 555 nm showing the best results in identifying discoloration areas. Among the evaluation models, the Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling-Support Vector Machine Regression (CARS-SVR) model effectively quantifies the degree of discoloration. Brightness (L*) shows the strongest response to black pollution on the Buddha’s face. Discoloration is divided into five levels, with severe discoloration concentrated in the nose area, consistent with field survey findings. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using hyperspectral technology for quantitative discoloration assessment in stone cultural heritage.

The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Organizational Citizenship Behavior with Job Satisfaction as Mediating Variable at PT PLN South and Central Kalimantan

The purpose of this research is to examine the influence of emotional intelligence on organizational citizenship behavior with the mediation of job satisfaction at PT. PLN UP2D Kalselteng. The research uses quantitative methods and collects data through field surveys by filling out questionnaires by employees. The research location is at PT. PLN UP2D Kalselteng in Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan. The unit of analysis of this research is the behavior and emotional reactions of the unit being observed. The population of this research is employees of PT. PLN UP2D Kalselteng, totaling 60 people in the second semester of 2023. The sample used was the entire population, with a "saturated sample" approach. The data collection technique used was distributing questionnaires. The measurement scale used is the Likert scale. The data analysis technique used is Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on Partial Least Squares (PLS) with the help of Smart PLS software. The results of the research found that emotional intelligence has a positive and significant influence on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior among employees of PT. PLN UP2D Kalselteng. The results of the study suggest that developing emotional intelligence in employees can lead to improved job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior.

Handmade Porcelain in Jingdezhen：Research on Intangible Cultural Heritage from the Perspective of Identity Construction and Cultural Identity, China

Jingdezhen, known as the porcelain capital of China, has a glorious history of porcelain making for thousands of years, which has given birth to countless outstanding craftsmen. Jingdezhen handmade ceramics embody distinct national and regional characteristics and are important representatives of traditional handicrafts. Its "hand-made porcelain skills" and "traditional porcelain kiln workshop construction skills" were included in the first batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006, marking the start of the intangible inheritance and protection of hand-made porcelain. Today, China's intangible cultural heritage protection work has made significant progress. However, in-depth research on the inheritors of "intangible cultural heritage" still has a long way to go. This study uses identity construction and cultural identity as the framework, focusing on the intangible inheritors of Jingdezhen handmade porcelain. It aims to explain the process of their identity construction and cultural identity. The research comprehensively uses field surveys, literature reviews, case analysis and other methods, and goes deep into the workshops. , the studio communicates face-to-face with intangible cultural heritage inheritors, and provides comprehensive research results for the protection and development of intangible cultural heritage inheritors of Jingdezhen handmade porcelain.

Geospatial Mapping and Health Status of Some Important Ornamental Fish Habitats of Upper Assam, India

To conserve and manage water resources, it is crucial to create a record of water bodies and their catchments, which can be accomplished through digitized maps. The research focused on five rivers - River Dibru, River Sessa, River Burhidihing, River Brahmaputra, as well as two wetlands of Upper Assam - Maguri Beel, and Mer Beel. These water bodies were chosen based on their abundant fishery resources. Each selected water body was divided into three segments, and one sampling station from each segment was selected for monitoring water quality and recording fish species. The distribution of the catchment area was analyzed in the form of raster maps and geomorphology maps. Based on fish landings, the water bodies were identified and classified, and fish samples were collected through regular field surveys. Over the period from January 2021 to December 2022, eleven physicochemical parameters of the selected water bodies were recorded seasonally to assess the health status of each water bodies. Similarly, the health status and growth coefficient of each fish specimen was done. Water parameters were mostly within the standard limits and demonstrated only a narrow range of seasonal variation. In the studied water bodies, 49 ornamental fish species representing 32 genera under 18 families and 8 orders were found. Among the water bodies, River Dibru had the highest number of ornamental fish species at 46. The order Cypriniformes was dominant in all the studied sites.

Detection of reproductive interference between closely related Salvia species with small-scale separated distributions by multifaceted pollination and molecular analyses.

Reproductive interference, an interspecific interaction in reproductive process that exerts an adverse effect, has gained attention as a contributing factor in promoting exclusive distributions between closely related species. However, detailed studies on the possibility of reproductive interference between native plants are still lacking, presumably because strong reproductive interference can rapidly realize exclusive distributions, leaving the two species apparently independent. Salvia japonica and S. lutescens are found in separate localities at a small scale, although their distributions overlap at a large scale. We investigated the possibility of reproductive interference between them through field surveys, hand-pollination experiments, evaluation of hybrid fertility, cpDNA and nrDNA genotyping, and genome-wide DNA analysis. The field survey results did not reveal apparent negative interaction in competition for pollinator services. Mixed pollination with conspecific pollen and counterpart pollen reduced seed set in S. japonica, and hybrid progeny produced by mixed pollination were less than 20% as fertile compared to the pure species. The DNA genotyping results suggested the possibility of hybridization where their distributions overlap, and the genome-wide DNA analysis results showed clear genetic differentiation between the two species as well as the existence of hybrids. These results suggest that bi-directional reproductive interference between S. japonica and S. lutescens may have led to their present separated distributions at a small scale.

Triple jeopardy: The combined effects of viral, chemical, and thermal stress on kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus) juveniles

Growing concerns have emerged over the combined effects of multiple stressors on ecosystems. Empirical evidence shows that the sensitivity of aquatic invertebrates to insecticides varies under thermally fluctuating conditions. Additionally, field surveys in estuarine areas of western Japan confirmed the presence of juvenile kuruma prawns (Penaeus japonicus) carrying the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Given the potential of co-exposure to multiple stressors, we performed a combined exposure experiment using a full-factorial design with three stressors: WSSV infection (presence or absence: initial 2 h exposure), fipronil (insecticide) exposure (0 or 0.1 μg/L: 14 d exposure), and temperature (20, 25, or 30 °C). We observed the highest mortality (75 %) in the WSSV + Fipronil treatment at 30 °C, with the associated specimens showing significant changes in the internal load of WSSV and concentrations of fipronil and its metabolite, fipronil sulfone. Severe perturbations of metabolites associated with increased energy expenditure and fatty acid utilization have been identified as potential factors underlying lethality in juvenile kuruma prawns. The results demonstrate that WSSV infection increases the susceptibility of thermally stressed juvenile kuruma prawns to fipronil. Therefore, further studies are required to determine the combined effects of multiple stressors in environmentally relevant scenarios on juvenile kuruma prawns as well as in estuarine ecosystems.

Landslide susceptibility zonation mapping using geospatial technologies and multi criteria evaluation techniques in the upper Didessa sub-basin, Southwest Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Landslides have a profound impact on landscape geology, resulting in extensive devastation and loss of human lives. Mapping landslide susceptibility is crucial for effective land use planning in mountainous country like Ethiopia. This study was conducted in the upper Didessa sub-basin, southwestern parts of Ethiopia using Geographic Information System (GIS) and multi criteria evaluation (MCE) technique. This study employed a blend of primary data, encompassing field surveys and interviews with experts, as well as secondary data derived from diverse source, such as remote sensing data, digital soil maps, and geological maps. A total of eleven critical factors were employed to assess the triggers of landslides. These factors include slope, aspect, drainage density, topographic wetness index (TWI), stream power index (SPI), topographic ruggedness index (TRI), hypsometric integral, lithology, land use land cover (LULC), soil texture, and distance from roads. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to determine the significance of each indicator through pairwise comparison matrix. The study area was categorized into different zones based on the susceptibility to landslides, namely very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. Results revealed that cultivated land had the highest likelihood of experiencing landslides, with a total of nine incidents out of 25, followed by built-up areas with seven landslides. Conversely, dense forests, sparse forests, and grazing land experienced a lower likelihood of landslides. Out of the 11 factors contributing to landslides, 24% of the surveyed region was deemed to have a moderate susceptibility, with 12% and 6% falling into the categories of high and very high susceptibility to landslides, respectively. The findings of this research provide important information for policymakers to develop efficient measures for preventing and reducing the risks of landslides.

The Impact of Solid Waste Management Practices on Vector-Borne Disease Risk in Thiruvanathapuram

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs), including dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, present ongoing public health challenges, particularly in urban areas of tropical regions. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, has seen a concerning rise in VBD cases, correlating with the city's rapid urbanization and inadequate solid waste management (SWM) practices. Poorly managed waste contributes to the proliferation of disease vectors, such as mosquitoes, by providing ideal breeding grounds, thereby exacerbating the risk of disease transmission. Despite the known association between inadequate SWM and VBDs, there is a paucity of localized studies that quantitatively examine this relationship in Thiruvananthapuram. This study seeks to bridge this gap by investigating the impact of existing SWM practices on the incidence of VBDs in the city. The findings aim to inform public health strategies and policy interventions that can mitigate the risk of VBDs through improved waste management. This cross-sectional study was conducted across 20 wards in Thiruvananthapuram, selected based on their varying levels of SWM effectiveness and reported VBD cases. Data collection involved field surveys to assess SWM practices, structured interviews with residents, and observational studies to identify potential breeding sites for vectors. Health records were analyzed to map the distribution of VBD cases in these wards. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, were employed to explore the relationship between SWM practices and VBD incidence. The study revealed a significant correlation between poor SWM practices and elevated VBD risk. Wards with inadequate waste management infrastructure exhibited a 40% higher incidence of dengue and chikungunya cases compared to areas with better-managed waste disposal systems (p < 0.01). Notably, 65% of households in the high-risk wards were found to dispose of waste improperly, contributing to the creation of vector breeding sites. Additionally, only 42% of residents were aware of the link between improper waste disposal and increased VBD risk, highlighting a critical gap in public awareness. This study concludes that inadequate SWM practices are a major contributor to the elevated risk of VBDs in Thiruvananthapuram. Addressing these challenges through improved waste management infrastructure and increased public awareness is crucial for reducing disease incidence. The outcomes of this research provide essential insights for local authorities and policymakers, emphasizing the urgent need for effective interventions to combat VBDs in urban areas.