Sustainable Resource Utilization Research Articles

Assessing ecological health in a semi-arid basin: a case study of the Wei River Basin, China.

A healthy water ecosystem within a river basin is essential for maintaining ecological security, preserving species diversity, and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development. Unfortunately, human activities have significantly threatened the health of water ecosystems in various basins. Consequently, timely restoration and targeted protection of damaged river ecosystems have become crucial objectives in watershed management. As a prerequisite and cornerstone for river protection and management, assessing river ecological health has emerged as a primary focus in current research. In this study, we selected the Wei River Basin, a representative area of the Yellow River Basin, as our research subject. We identified multiple influencing factors, including society, biology, water quality, and habitat, which collectively impact this semi-arid region. To assess the overall impact of these factors on ecological health, we developed a comprehensive River Ecological Health Assessment Index (REHAI) system. The research findings indicate that the Wei River system, as a whole, is currently in a healthy state, while the Jing and Luo River systems are classified as sub-healthy. Furthermore, we observed variations within the Wei River system itself; the upper reaches of the Wei River exhibit higher levels of health compared to the middle reaches, whereas the water environment in the lower reaches is the most compromised. This degradation can be attributed to downstream subsidence, increased pollution, and rapid urbanization. By establishing a river ecosystem health assessment methodology and conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the health status of river ecosystems, this paper puts forward management recommendations for river basins. These findings provide a scientific basis for the sustainable utilization of water resources in river basins and promote the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Mile, Yunnan, China

BackgroundThe Yi people are a sociolinguistic group living in Mile City, which is their typical settlement in southeastern Yunnan, China. Over the long history of using medicinal plants, the Yi people have accumulated and developed a wealth of traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a vital role in their health care. However, only a few studies have been performed to systematically document the medicinal plants commonly used by the Yi people. This study provides fundamental data for the development and application of ethnomedicine as well as supports the conservation of the traditional medical knowledge of the Yi people.MethodsThis study was conducted from May 2020 to August 2022 and involved five townships in Mile. Information regarding medicinal plants was obtained through semistructured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. The collected voucher specimens were identified using the botanical taxonomy method and deposited in the herbarium. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using informant consensus factor, relative frequency of citation, and fidelity level.ResultsIn total, 114 informants distributed in five townships of Mile were interviewed. The Yi people used 267 medicinal plant species belonging to 232 genera and 104 families to treat various diseases. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae were the most commonly used plant families by the Yi people. In addition, herbs were most commonly used by the Yi people. Whole plants and roots were the preferred medicinal parts. Decoctions were the most common method of herbal medicine preparation. There are 49 different recorded diseases treated by Yi medicinal plants, and among them, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, traumatic injury, fractures, and digestive system diseases have the largest number of species used. A quantitative analysis demonstrated that plants such as Zingiber officinale, Lycopodium japonicum, Aconitum carmichaelii, Panax notoginseng, Cyathula officinalis, and Leonurus japonicus played crucial roles in disease prevention and treatment.ConclusionTraditional knowledge of medicinal plants is closely associated with the social culture of the local Yi people. The medicinal plants used for health care in the study area were diverse. Local healers were skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases. Their treatment methods were convenient and unique, exhibiting distinctive regional characteristics. However, the inheritance of their traditional medicinal knowledge and protection of wild medicinal plant resources are facing serious challenges, including the decreasing number of local healers, aging of healers, lack of successors, and excessive harvesting of medicinal plant resources. This ethnobotanical survey provides a useful reference for the sustainable utilization and protection of medicinal plant resources in Mile and the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge of the Yi people.

A low-temperature solid-to-solid reaction for lithium-ion battery recycling and the utilization of defect-enriched Co3O4 from spent LiCoO2 batteries for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

An efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective strategy for the recovery of precious metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is of great significance for the sustainable natural resource utilization and environmental protection. Herein, a low-temperature solid-to-solid reaction combined water leaching technology is proposed for the preferential extraction of Li from spent LiCoO2 batteries. In the solid-to-solid reaction, crystal water released from the oxalic acid dihydrate acts as a lubricant and initiates the reduction reaction to convert the spent LiCoO2 into water-soluble Li salts (LiHC2O4 or Li2C2O4) and water-insoluble CoC2O4. After water leaching, the collected Li-rich solution and the Co-rich residue are separately transformed into Li2CO3 and Co3O4. Additionally, a defect-enriched Co3O4 is prepared by water quenching process, exhibiting excellent performances towards oxygen evolution reaction. This work not only achieves a facile, low-cost and energy-saving strategy for recycling spent LIBs, but also proposes a vacancy-defected engineering route for electrocatalyst design in energy-related applications.

Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and their utilization by the people of Soro District, Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia

BackgroundEthnoveterinary studies are important to maintain the sustainability of livestock health and support people’s livelihoods through the provision of food, maintaining livestock health, and other biological resources. This study was carried out in Soro District, southern Ethiopia, to identify, document and analyse plant species with ethnoveterinary uses along with the associated indigenous and local knowledge.Materials and methodsInformants were selected using purposive (key informants) and systematic random sampling (general informants) methods. Data on ethnoveterinary plants and their uses were collected through semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, 13 focus group discussions with five to seven members in each and participant observation. Informant consensus factor and fidelity level were computed to identify the most common livestock ailment categories and the best plant species with ethnoveterinary use, respectively. Preference ranking methods were used to identify the potentially effective ethnoveterinary medicinal plants for the most frequently reported livestock ailments. The use diversity of multipurpose plants with ethnoveterinary importance was analysed using the analytical methods of ethnobotany including priority ranking, comparisons and important indices. The T-test statistic was used to compare knowledge differences among different social groups.ResultsA total of 132 plant species in 120 genera and 61 families were reported by informants as having ethnoveterinary uses. The plants are said to be used by the local communities in various ways to treat 50 livestock health problems. Higher number of informants (23.77%) cited Momordica foetida for the treatment of 16 livestock ailments. The highest informant consensus value for this species is associated with its use for treating blackleg in cattle; Nicotiana tabacum was cited for the treatment of 15 livestock ailments mainly recommended for the Lumpy Skin Disease/Ailment of bovines; Croton macrostachyus for treatment of 13 livestock ailments including wooden tongue, FMD in bovines; and Gymnanthemum amygdalinum for nine ailments mainly diarrhoea of all livestock types. Achyranthes aspera is claimed to provide the most effective treatment for Aspiration pneumonia (severe coughing in bovines, sheep and goats) alone, while Croton macrostachyus, Ximenia americana, Allium sativum and Juniperus procera were indicated as potential plant species to treat Lumpy Skin Disease in bovines in the order given. The fidelity level analysis showed that Datura stramonium, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia and Asparagus africanus were potential medicinal plant species to treat the respective ailments of rabies, Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and evil eye/spirit. Multipurpose plant species including Prunus africanus, Combretum molle and Afrocarpus falcatus have been highly threatened as indicated by direct matrix ranking mainly due to collection of fuel wood, construction materials and making household utensils, and farm implements rather than for other uses.ConclusionSoro District has rich and diversified livestock herbal medicinal resources, and indigenous knowledge of remedy preparations and applications is transmitted through generation lines. This resource faces anthropogenic threats with deforestation being the leading factor. Consequently, ethnoveterinary medicinal plants continue to decline before adequate and proper scientific documentation and testing are made. There is a dire need for planning and implementation of appropriate in situ and ex situ conservation strategies and to strive towards ensuring the survival and sustainable utilization of such important plant resources of Soro District. This must be supported by further documentation of the associated indigenous knowledge and pharmacological testing of the key promising species including Balanites aegyptiaca (novel species/NS to treat specific ailment), Brugmansia suaveolens (novel species/NS reported first to treat Livestock ailments/LsAs), Euclea divinorum (NS to treat specific ailments), Grevillea robusta (NS), Hagenia abyssinica (NS for the reported specific ailment), Pentanema confertiflorum (NS), Juniperus procera (NS), Maesa lanceolata (NS), Millettia ferruginea (NS for reported specific ailments), Schrebera alata/NS, Securidaca longepedunculata, Spiniluma oxyacantha/NS, Vepris nobilis (novel species reported first to treat LsAs), Zanthoxylum asiaticum /NS and Ximenia americana (NS for specific ailments). This ethnoveterinary study attempted to fill part of the gaps concerning the prevalent livestock health problems and the associated indigenous and local knowledge in the area.

How does top-down water unified allocation and regulation decelerate water utilization? Insights from the Yellow River, China

Understanding changes in human water utilization under the policy environment of the national top-down water unified allocation and regulation (TWAR) is crucial for promoting river health, sustainable resource utilization, and high-quality socioeconomic development along the whole Yellow River, a congenitally water-deficient river in China. This study assessed the TWAR policy effects on the total/sectoral/per capita water uses using the canonical difference-in-difference (DID) model, synthetic control method (SCM), and generalized synthetic control method (GSCM). The net effects of TWAR were assumed to be spatially heterogeneous and associated with variations in water-conserving efficiency, described by two indicators: water-conserving irrigation (WCI) and industrial recycled water (IRW). The suitable threshold intervals of WCI and IRW for benefiting decelerating water utilization were analyzed using a linear mediating effect (ME) model and panel smoothing transformation regression (PSTR) model, to explain the rebound effect in water use under the impact of the prevailing TWAR. The results show that TWAR initially had sustained positive effects on curbing water use growth, with the highest contribution to per capita agricultural water use in the lower section and high-quota region of the Yellow River Basin, but these effects decreased after a decade. Only when the WCI shifted within the threshold interval [0.283, 0.771] and the IRW did not exceed 0.962 could TWAR restrain water use. Emphasizing the conservation-oriented improvement of water use efficiency may necessitate extra attention to regions where water-conserving practices already reach high levels beyond the maximum WCI or IRW thresholds. These regions might be inclined to overutilize saved water to boost economic benefits and thereby potentially exacerbate the undesirable rebound effect from new uncontrolled water extraction.

Distribution of rhizosphere fungi of Kobresia humilis on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Kobresia humilis is a major species in the alpine meadow communities of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP); it plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of these meadows. Nevertheless, little is known about the rhizosphere fungi associated with K. humilis on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. In this study, we used Illumina Miseq to investigate the fungal diversity, community structure, and ecological types in the root and rhizosphere soil of K. humilis across eight areas on the QTP and analyzed the correlation between rhizosphere fungi of K. humilis and environmental factors. A total of 19,423 and 25,101 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from the roots and rhizosphere soil of K. humilis. These were classified into seven phyla, 25 classes, 68 orders, 138 families, and 316 genera in the roots, and nine phyla, 31 classes, 76 orders, 152 families, and 407 genera in the rhizosphere soil. There were 435 and 415 core OTUs identified in root and rhizosphere soil, respectively, which were categorized into 68 and 59 genera, respectively, with 25 shared genera. Among them, the genera with a relative abundance >1% included Mortierella, Microscypha, Floccularia, Cistella, Gibberella, and Pilidium. Compared with the rhizosphere soil, the roots showed five differing fungal community characteristics, as well as differences in ecological type, and in the main influencing environmental factors. First, the diversity, abundance, and total number of OTUs in the rhizosphere soil of K. humilis were higher than for the endophytic fungi in the roots by 11.85%, 9.85%, and 22.62%, respectively. The composition and diversity of fungal communities also differed between the eight areas. Second, although saprotroph-symbiotrophs were the main ecological types in both roots and rhizosphere soil; there were 62.62% fewer pathotrophs in roots compared to the rhizosphere soil. Thirdly, at the higher altitude sites (3,900-4,410 m), the proportion of pathotroph fungi in K. humilis was found to be lower than at the lower altitude sites (3,200-3,690 m). Fourthly, metacommunity-scale network analysis showed that during the long-term evolutionary process, ZK (EICZK = 1) and HY (EICHY = 1) were critical sites for development of the fungal community structure in the roots and rhizosphere soil of K. humilis, respectively. Fifthly, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that key driving factors in relation to the fungal community were longitude (R2 = 0.5410) for the root community and pH (R2 = 0.5226) for the rhizosphere soil community. In summary, these results show that K. humilis fungal communities are significantly different in the root and rhizosphere soil and at the eight areas investigated, indicating that roots select for specific microorganisms in the soil. This is the first time that the fungal distribution of K. humilis on the QTP in relation to long-term evolutionary processes has been investigated. These findings are critical for determining the effects of environmental variables on K. humilis fungal communities and could be valuable when developing guidance for ecological restoration and sustainable utilization of the biological resources of the QTP.

Electrogenic properties of Bacillus paramycoidesNBPP1 strain as a biocatalyst in the microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are indeed a promising technology with the potential to address energy shortages and environmental pollution simultaneously. MFC utilizes the metabolic activities of microbes to convert organic substrates into electrical energy. This study assesses the power production capabilities of an isolated bacterial strain from soil, Bacillus paramycoides NBPP1, using different configurations of MFCs. The organic waste from chicken butchery shop is used as nutrient and aluminum and graphite as anode and cathode respectively. The MFC achieved voltage in an open circuitof 662 mV, maximal density of power of 4 Wm−2, internal resistance of 898 Ω, and coulombic efficiency of 6.66% for dual chambers. For single chambers, the values were 649 mV, 570 Ω, 2.6 Wm−2, and 3.75% respectively. The COD removal efficiency was 57.14% for dual chambers and 47.16% for single chambers. The MFC also demonstrated LED illumination in a series circuit for a longer duration, with a maximum power density of 6.40 Wm−2. Additionally, the residual broth was found to be an effective organic fertilizer with adequate N, K, and sufficient P. This study highlights the sustainable resource utilization in MFC organic waste, which encompasses power generation, waste management, and the potential for organic fertilizer production.

Effects and Underlying Mechanisms of Rice-Paddy-Upland Rotation Combined with Bacterial Fertilizer for the Abatement of Radix pseudostellariae Continuous Cropping Obstacles

Radix pseudostellariae is one of the well-known genuine medicinal herbs in Fujian province, China. However, the continuous cropping obstacles with respect to R. pseudostellariae have seriously affected the sustainable utilization of medicinal resources and the development of related industrial systems. The occurrence of continuous cropping obstacles is a comprehensive effect of multiple deteriorating biological and abiotic factors in the rhizosphere soil. Therefore, intensive ecological methods have been the key to abating such obstacles. In this study, four treatments were set up, i.e., fallow (RP-F), fallow + bacterial fertilizer (RP-F-BF), rice-paddy-upland rotation (RP-R), and rice-paddy-upland rotation + bacterial fertilizer (RP-R-BF), during the interval between two plantings of R. pseudostellariae, with a newly planted (NP) treatment as the control. The results show that the yield of R. pseudostellariae under the RP-F treatment decreased by 46.25% compared to the NP treatment. Compared with the RP-F treatment, the yields of the RP-F-BF, RP-R, and RP-R-BF treatments significantly increased by 14.11%, 27.79%, and 62.51%, respectively. The medicinal quality of R. pseudostellariae treated with RP-R-BF was superior to that achieved with the other treatments, with the total saponin and polysaccharide contents increasing by 8.54% and 27.23%, respectively, compared to the RP-F treatment. The ecological intensive treatment of RP-R-BF significantly increased the soil pH, content of organic matter, abundance of beneficial microbial populations, and soil enzyme activity, thus remediating the deteriorating environment of continuous cropping soil. On this basis, the ecological intensive treatment RP-R-BF significantly increased the activity of protective enzymes and the expression levels of genes related to disease and stress resistance in leaves and root tubers. Redundancy and Pearson correlation analyses indicated that rice-paddy-upland rotation improved the soil structure, promoted the growth of eutrophic r-strategy bacterial communities, enhanced compound oxidation and reduction, broke the relationship between the deteriorating environment and harmful biological factors, and eventually weakened the intensity of harmful factors. The subsequent application of bacterial fertilizer improved the beneficial biological and abiotic factors, activated various ecological functions of the soil, enhanced the ecological relationship between various biological and abiotic factors, and reduced the stress intensity of R. pseudostellariae, thereby improving its disease and stress resistance, and ultimately reflecting the recovery of yield and quality. The results indirectly prove that the intensive ecological amelioration of the soil environment was the main factor for the yield recovery of R. pseudostellariae under continuous cropping.

Deep hierarchical cluster analysis for assessing the water quality indicators for sustainable groundwater

Groundwater quality assessment is a paramount aspect of ensuring the availability of safe drinking water. The conventional reliance on individual parameter thresholds often overlooks intricate interdependencies within the dataset. To overcome this, deep learning algorithms are employed to automatically extract meaningful features from multidimensional data. This innovative approach aims to capture complex relationships between water quality parameters that may be missed by traditional methods. The research identifies a significant gap in current groundwater quality assessment methodologies, emphasizing the need for a more data-driven approach. This research addresses the limitations of traditional methods by introducing a pioneering approach that integrates deep learning and hierarchical cluster analysis to identify comprehensive water quality indicators. The study collects data from diverse monitoring wells, encompassing chemical, physical, and biological parameters. By applying deep cluster analysis to the feature-extracted data, latent patterns and relationships among water quality parameters are unveiled. This clustering method reveals hidden structures within the dataset, leading to the identification of water quality indicators that consider both individual parameters and their interactions. The proposed method in this research offers an understanding of groundwater quality dynamics, contributing to the advancement of water resource management strategies. The results of the deep cluster analysis provide a more comprehensive and accurate representation of groundwater quality, enabling better-informed decision-making for sustainable water resource utilization.

Integrated Nutrient Management Boosts Inflorescence Biomass and Antioxidant Profile of Carlina diae (Asteraceae)—An Endangered Local Endemic Plant of Crete with Medicinal and Ornamental Value

Due to the combined climate and biodiversity crisis, the sustainable utilization of phytogenetic resources stands as a one-way alternative, while nutrient management strategies are gaining an increasing role in agriculture. Building on previous studies regarding the Endangered local endemic of Crete (Greece) Carlina diae (Asteraceae), with medicinal and ornamental value, this investigation focused on its pilot cultivation and fertilization (foliar or soil application). Foliar application comprised inorganic fertilization (conventional) or integrated nutrient management (INM). Soil application consisted of conventional inorganic fertilizers, biostimulants, or INM with biostimulants. Above-ground biomass content of nutrients, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, and color parameters (SPAD meter, DA meter, Chroma Meter) were estimated. The leaf chlorophyll content, three key antioxidant compounds, and nutrient titers were also determined. The fertilization scheme did not influence plant growth and visually perceived quality (leaf color and shape). Notably, foliar INM fertilization increased biomass partitioning to inflorescences (harvestable organs for either medicinal or ornamental purposes) and decreased tissue water content (facilitating processing). Considering all three antioxidants together, INM with biostimulant appeared the optimum scheme, being associated with the highest (carotenoids, phenolics) or the second highest (flavonoid) content. In C. diae, therefore, INM fertilization was optimal for upgrading yield (foliar) and herbal quality in terms of antioxidant profile (INM with biostimulant), which might be embraced as an eco-friendly approach for high-quality yields.

Estimating groundwater recharge rates in the Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia under different combinations of model complexity and objective functions

Abstract This study addresses the critical need for reliable groundwater recharge quantification by investigating the uncertainty associated with recharge estimation based on various combinations of model complexity and objective functions. Focusing on the Hombele catchment in the upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia, the research aims to analyze parameter sensitivity under different model complexities and objectives while estimating groundwater recharge for the period 1986–2013. Employing a Monte-Carlo-based calibration scheme, the study fine-tunes model parameters using objective functions like KGE, NSE, LogNSE, R2, and VE across 10 combinations of model complexity and objective functions. Results identify FC, LP, and BETA as highly sensitive parameters, while UZL, K0, and MAXBAS show limited influence in all model complexity and objective function scenarios. The semi-distributed HBV-light model achieves calibration, validation, and overall period KGE (NSE) values of 0.89 (0.80), 0.80 (0.73), and 0.87 (0.77), respectively. Sensitivity analyses reveal significant impacts on model parameters and recharge estimation based on the chosen objective function and model complexity levels. Average annual recharge rates range from 185.9–280.5 mm when the HBV-light model is semi-distributed, contrasting with 185.3–321.7 mm under lumped model conditions, emphasizing the importance of considering these factors in groundwater resource assessments.

Characterization and Development of Venipuncture Practice Rubber Model Based for BCG Economy Framework

The Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy framework, which integrates economic, social, and environmental aspects for waste management, holds great promise for fostering growth across various sectors in Thailand. Venipuncture, a critical medical procedure, can lead to complications if not performed correctly. This study uses Thailand para latex resources and calcium carbonate extracted from recycled mollusk shells to develop an educational innovation model for venipuncture procedures. Natural rubber latex (NRL) was obtained from Chiang Rai, Thailand. Preserved latex was heated to obtain 60% concentrated latex, then combined with a sulfur solution, and calcium carbonate powder was added in various ratios. Molding used a specialized mold replicating anatomical features of the antecubital fossa, incorporating three prominent veins. The venipuncture practice rubber model was characterized for pH, moisture content, water absorption, tensile strength, and other properties. The model exhibited neutral pH, low moisture content, and notable resistance and elasticity. This study promotes the sustainable utilization of natural latex resources and recycled mollusk shells in developing innovative medical models within the BCG framework. Additional research is required to enhance the human friendliness and realism of the rubber material used in the venipuncture practice model.

Estimation of loss in arable land and irrigation requirements using high‐resolution imagery and Google Earth Engine

AbstractWater resources planning and management are critical in intricate basins such as the Indus Basin, shared by India and Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) for food security, conserving the environment, sustainable economic development and supporting livelihoods. The present study assesses arable land loss within the Padshahi and Sindh Extension (SE) canal catchments over 54 years, utilizing high‐resolution satellite imagery and Google Earth Engine's normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derivations for strategizing irrigation efficiency, minimizing water loss and ensuring sustainable utilization of limited water resources under the IWT. Results revealed that irrigated land has decreased from 5127 ha (1966) to 3501 ha (2020) in both canals. The Padshahi canal sees substantial loss (1278 ha), primarily due to the highest transitions from agricultural land/crop land (−69%) to built‐up areas. The SE canal, experiencing shifts to horticulture and plantation, records relatively fewer changes in built‐up areas (348 ha). The monthly variation in the NDVI clearly depicted the high demand for irrigation to cater to agricultural lands with the onset of the sowing season for paddy in the Padshahi (1900 ha) and SE (2600 ha) canals in May.

A comprehensive analysis of surface water changes in Dau Tieng Lake, Vietnam, across dry and wet seasons

This study investigates the seasonal dynamics of Dau Tieng Lake near Tay Ninh, Vietnam, employing remote sensing technology, specifically the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Focused on the period from 2016 to 2020, the research aims to detect changes in the water surface area during dry and wet seasons. As the largest reservoir for water supply and irrigation in Vietnam, Dau Tieng Lake faces operational challenges due to seasonal rainfall variations and increasing water demands. The results reveal significant differences in water body areas between wet and dry seasons, with MNDWI proving more effective in capturing these variations compared to NDVI. The study concludes that the seasonal change in Dau Tieng Lake is 21.76 km2 (NDVI) and 25.55 km2 (MNDWI), emphasizing the latter's superiority in accurately detecting water body changes. These findings contribute valuable insights for improved reservoir management and sustainable utilization of water resources in the region.

Review of smart water management: IoT and AI in water and wastewater treatment

Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in smart water management revolutionizes sustainable water resource utilization. This comprehensive review explores these technologies' benefits, challenges, regulatory implications, and future trends. Smart water management enhances operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, and resource conservation while addressing data security and infrastructure investment challenges. Regulatory frameworks play a pivotal role in shaping the responsible deployment of AI and IoT, ensuring data privacy and ethical use. Future trends include advanced sensors, decentralized systems, quantum computing, and blockchain for enhanced water data security. The alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscores the transformative potential of smart water management in achieving universal access to clean water, climate resilience, and inclusive, sustainable development. As we embrace these technologies, collaboration, public awareness, and ethical considerations will guide the evolution of intelligent and equitable water management systems.

Study on the mechanical properties and microstructure of recycled brick aggregate concrete with waste fiber

Abstract Recycled concrete technology can promote the sustainable development of the construction industry, but the insufficient mechanical properties of recycled concrete have become a key constraint on its development. By adding waste fibers, the mechanical properties of recycled concrete can be improved, and the problem of disposing of waste polypropylene fibers can be solved. In this article, the effects of recycled brick aggregate content and waste fiber content on the mechanical properties and microstructures of recycled brick aggregate concrete through macroscopic mechanical experiments and microstructure experiments are investigated. The results show that the addition of recycled brick aggregate reduces the mechanical properties of concrete; when the content of recycled brick aggregate is 100%, the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength decrease by 22.04 and 20.00%, respectively. The addition of waste fibers can improve the mechanical properties of recycled brick aggregate concrete, but it is necessary to control the contents of waste fibers in a certain range. When the content of waste fibers is 0.08%, the best improvement effect on the mechanical properties of concrete is achieved; the compressive strength of concrete with a 50% (100%) recycled aggregate replacement rate increases by 6.06% (8.90%), while the splitting tensile strength of concrete with a 50% (100%) recycled aggregate replacement rate increases by 2.30% (6.16%). Through microstructural analysis, the mechanism by which waste fiber improves the mechanical properties of recycled brick aggregate concrete is revealed. The addition of waste fibers has the effect of strengthening the framework inside the recycled brick aggregate concrete, forming a good structural stress system and allowing the recycled brick aggregate concrete to continue to bear loads after cracking. In this study, waste brick aggregate and waste fiber are effectively utilized, which can not only reduce pollution to the environment but also realize the sustainable utilization of resources.

Sustainable Utilization of Phosphogypsum in Multi-Solid Waste Recycled Aggregates: Environmental Impact and Economic Viability

This study contributes to sustainable construction practices by exploring the use of phosphogypsum, a commonly discarded byproduct, in the production of recycled aggregates. Addressing both environmental and economic aspects of sustainability, we investigate the feasibility of employing phosphogypsum as a primary raw material, in collaboration with various solid waste components, using pressure molding techniques. Our research evaluates the performance of these aggregates in terms of compressive strength, softening coefficient, and their potential to reduce environmental pollution. Findings indicate that aggregates containing 70% phosphogypsum can effectively meet the requirements for C25 concrete applications, underscoring the method’s sustainability through efficient waste material utilization, reduced environmental impact, and potential economic benefits compared to new resource extraction. This approach contributes to the understanding of sustainable resource utilization in construction, resonating with global sustainability goals, particularly the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Evaluation of Groundwater Vulnerability of Yishu River Basin Based on DRASTIC-GIS Model

The evaluation of vulnerability is a crucial aspect in the sustainable development, utilization, and preservation of groundwater resources. This study utilizes a comprehensive approach, integrating systematic analysis of hydrogeological conditions and the utilization of observed and collected data. The evaluation of groundwater vulnerability in the Yishu River Basin (YRB) was conducted by employing the DRASTIC model, along with the zone overlay function of GIS software. Seven evaluation indicators were considered in this assessment. The findings demonstrate that the groundwater vulnerability in the YRB can be categorized into five divisions: excellent, good, medium, poor, and very poor, accounting for 14.5%, 42.3%, 27.9%, 14.0%, and 1.3% respectively. The areas with low vulnerability are predominantly located in the eastern part of the study area, covering the largest proportion of the total area. Conversely, areas with high vulnerability are found alongside both banks of the Shu River, forming narrow strips. Although these areas have smaller overall coverage, they contain dispersed water sources that require careful attention. These research findings provide valuable scientific insights and serve as a reference for urban planning, land use management, and groundwater resource protection in the YRB. The formulation and adoption of targeted protection measures in accordance with different groundwater vulnerability zoning, the formulation of scientific groundwater resource development and utilization programs, and execution of land resource planning are of great significance from the perspective of groundwater resource protection.

The Impacts of Land-Use Changes on Ecosystem Service Value in the Yunnan–Kweichow Plateau, China

The Yunnan–Kweichow Plateau serves as a critical ecological security barrier in southwest China. The region has witnessed substantial transformations in land use patterns due to rapid urban expansion, economic development, and population growth. These changes have significantly impacted the structure and services of regional ecosystems. Conducting a quantitative analysis of the influence of land-use changes on ecosystem service value (ESV) proves to be invaluable for guiding regional land planning and environmental conservation efforts. Utilizing land use data, we calculated ESV variations linked to dynamic land-use changes spanning the period from 1980 to 2020. This comprehensive study delved into the spatiotemporal fluctuations and regional disparities in ESV. To enhance the reliability of our evaluation, we applied a regional coefficient to adjust the equivalent factor of ecosystem service value. Over the 40 years, the total ESV exhibited a decrease from USD 122,215.03 million to USD 121,838.82 million. Notably, water supply experienced the most significant decline, while hydrological regulation witnessed the largest increase. The continuous decline in water supply service capacity raises concerns about exacerbating water resource shortages in the region. Spatially, the ESVs in the study region primarily concentrated within the medium-low to medium-high value range. However, except for regions with medium values, the area of other level regions is expanding, and is particularly evident in the increase in low-value regions. The reduction of forestland, grassland, and cultivated land, coupled with the expansion of built-up land, emerged as the primary contributors to the overall ESV decrease. In particular, the negative ecological contribution rate of built-up land reached 37.97%, and the ESV decreased by USD 866.64 million, underscoring that the expansion of water bodies could not compensate for this loss. The study highlights the increasing sensitivity of ESV to land-use changes in the region. As a response, there is a pressing need for managers to reinforce the implementation of ecological engineering and engage in rational planning for production, living, and ecological spaces. This research serves as a crucial reference for establishing an ecological security pattern system and fostering the sustainable development and utilization of land resources in the region.

Assessment of Water Resource Utilization and Analysis of Driving Factors in Zhoushan City Based on Water Footprint Theory and LMDI Model

Accurately analyzing the water system’s status in a region is crucial for mitigating water resource constraints on the development of island areas. This study centers on Zhoushan, an archipelago city, and employs the water footprint theory (WFT) and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) model to scrutinize the evolution of water footprints from 2010 to 2020. It also dissects the impacts of economic, technological, and population factors on these changes. The findings are as follows: From 2010 to 2020, Zhoushan’s total water footprint has remained relatively stable, but its structure is imbalanced, indicating an unhealthy development. The agricultural water footprint dominates, though its proportion has steadily declined from 64% to 28%, while the imported water footprint has significantly increased from 2% to 29%. The skewed distribution of internal and external water consumption contributes to this imbalance, with internal water use accounting for a staggering 86.43%. The ecological security of water resources appears bleak, with average water scarcity and pressure indices reaching 0.42 and 0.41, respectively, indicating an overloaded state of water resources. Despite a 144.50% growth in water footprint efficiency from 2010 to 2020, the average water resource sustainability index merely stands at 0.531, and its sustainability remains precarious. The LMDI model results unveil that technological factors are the primary negative driving factors, contributing to 47.06% of the changes in Zhoushan’s water resource utilization. Conversely, economic and population factors play positive roles, contributing 42.29% and 10.65%, respectively. Therefore, in the course of development, there should be a focus on promoting water-saving tec-nologies, and continuously enhancing the efficiency of water resource utilization. Simultaneously, attention should be given to the development of the tertiary sector and the water resource pressure resulting from the mobile population, aiming to achieve sustainable water resource utilization and further ensure the ecological security of Zhoushan City.