Search results for "Environmental engineering"
showing 10 items of 2674 documents
Improvement of Energy Efficiency for Indoor Lighting in a Big Shopping Center
2018
As the progressive diffusion of shopping centers in Italy, the paper analysis the potential energy savings in the indoor lighting plant, thanks to new technologies as LED lamps and Building Automation System. The case study, applied to a big shopping mall in the middle of Italy, shows great results, thanks to the high efficiency of LED technology, high number of operating hours and the implementation of a control system. An economic and environmental evaluation is reported.
Exploring the use of multi-gene genetic programming in regional models for the simulation of monthly river runoff series
2023
The use of new data-driven approaches based on the so-called expert systems to simulate runoff generation processes is a promising frontier that may allow for overcoming some modeling difficulties related to more complex traditional approaches. The present study highlights the potential of expert systems in creating regional hydrological models, for which they can benefit from the availability of large database. Different soft computing models for the reconstruction of the monthly natural runoff in river basins are explored, focusing on a new class of heuristic models, which is the Multi-Gene Genetic Programming (MGGP). The region under study is Sicily (Italy), where a regression based rain…
Development of Eco-Friendly and Self-Cleaning Lime-Pozzolan Plasters for Bio-Construction and Cultural Heritage
2020
Summarization: Nowadays, the design and use of multi-functional mortars has increased significantly, with interesting applications in the green building and cultural heritage conservation sectors. A key point for a correct adoption of these innovative materials is their behavior along time and their resistance to the weathering. The objective of this project was to define the performance and durability of innovative mortars, in order to use them correctly and to avoid irreparable damage over time. For the development of this project, lime–metakaolin and hydraulic lime–metakaolin based mortars (hereinafter called A, B), as well as A and B with the addition of nano-TiO2 and perlite (hereinaft…
The SESAMO early warning system for rainfall-triggered landslides
2016
The development of Web-based information systems coupled with advanced monitoring systems could prove to be extremely useful in landslide risk management and mitigation. A new frontier in the field of rainfall-triggered landslides (RTLs) lies in the real-time modelling of the relationship between rainfall and slope stability; this requires an intensive monitoring of some key parameters that could be achieved through the use of modern and often low-cost technologies. This work describes an integrated information system for early warning of RTLs that has been deployed and tested, in a prototypal form, for an Italian pilot site. The core of the proposed system is a wireless sensor network coll…
Effect of raster resolution and polygon-conversion algorithm on landslide susceptibility mapping
2016
The choice of the proper resolution in landslide susceptibility mapping is a worth considering issue. If, on the one hand, a coarse spatial resolution may describe the terrain morphologic properties with low accuracy, on the other hand, at very fine resolutions, some of the DEM-derived morphometric factors may hold an excess of details. Moreover, the landslide inventory maps are represented throughout geospatial vector data structure, therefore a conversion procedure vector-to-raster is required.This work investigates the effects of raster resolution on the susceptibility mapping in conjunction with the use of different algorithms of vector-raster conversion. The Artificial Neural Network t…
Emerging brominated flame retardants and dechlorane-related compounds in European eels (Anguilla anguilla) from Latvian lakes
2017
Abstract Fifteen halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) including seven emerging brominated flame retardants (EBFRs) and eight dechlorane-related compounds (DRCs) were analyzed in eels (Anguilla anguilla) sampled from five Latvian lakes. Out of the seven EBFRs, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were found in eels in quantifiable concentrations, up to 6.58 and 33.0 ng g−1 lipid weight (l.w.), respectively. The mean total concentration of DRCs (∑DRC) in the samples was 0.62 ng g−1 l.w. and the geographical distribution of DRC contamination was nearly uniform among the selected lakes. Dechlorane 602 (Dec 602) was the predominant component, whereas the composition …
Évaluation du colmatage de tranchées d'infiltration selon le type de sol : analyse à long terme
2010
In recent years, limitations linked to traditional urban drainage schemes have been pointed out and new approaches were developed introducing more natural methods for retaining and/or disposing of stormwater. Such practices include infiltration and storage tanks in order to reduce the peak flow and retain part of the polluting components. The impact of such practices on stormwater quantity and quality is not easily assessable because of the complexity of physical and chemical processes involved. In such cases, integrated urban drainage models may play a relevant role providing tools for long term analysis of infiltration structures efficiency. In this study, the effect of the clogging pheno…
The novel HALO mini-DOAS instrument: inferring trace gas concentrations from airborne UV/visible limb spectroscopy under all skies using the scaling …
2017
Abstract. We report on a novel six-channel optical spectrometer (further on called mini-DOAS instrument) for airborne nadir and limb measurements of atmospheric trace gases, liquid and solid water, and spectral radiances in the UV/vis and NIR spectral ranges. The spectrometer was developed for measurements from aboard the German High-Altitude and Long-Range (HALO) research aircraft during dedicated research missions. Here we report on the relevant instrumental details and the novel scaling method used to infer the mixing ratios of UV/vis absorbing trace gases from their absorption measured in limb geometry. The uncertainties of the scaling method are assessed in more detail than before for …
SOUTHTRAC-GW: An airborne field campaign to explore gravity wave dynamics at the world’s strongest hotspot
2021
The southern part of South America and the Antarctic peninsula are known as the world’s strongest hotspot region of stratospheric gravity wave (GW) activity. Large tropospheric winds are deflected by the Andes and the Antarctic Peninsula and excite GWs that might propagate into the upper mesosphere. Satellite observations show large stratospheric GW activity above the mountains, the Drake Passage, and in a belt centered along 60°S. This scientifically highly interesting region for studying GW dynamics was the focus of the Southern Hemisphere Transport, Dynamics, and Chemistry–Gravity Waves (SOUTHTRAC-GW) mission. The German High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft (HALO) was deployed …
Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) : an integrated project for understanding of the West African climate system and its human dimension
2011
International audience; The intraseasonal time scale is critical in West Africa where resources are highly rainfall dependent. Three main modes of variability have been identified, two with a mean periodicity of 15 days and one with a mean periodicity around 40 days. These modes have a regional scale and can strongly influence precipitation and convective activity. They are mainly controlled by atmospheric dynamics and land-surface interactions. They can also modulate the very specific phase of the African summer monsoon onset. A better knowledge of the mechanisms controlling this scale is necessary to improve its predictability.