Search Results (18)

The reclamation of illegal landfills poses a significant threat to the environment. An example of such a case is Łomianki near Warsaw, where an illegal landfill contained alarming levels of arsenic and chromium, posing a potential risk to the health of local residents due to the possibility of these metals contaminating a nearby drinking water source. Initial geochemical tests revealed high concentrations of these metals, with chromium reaching up to 24,660 mg/kg and arsenic up to 10,350 mg/kg, well above international environmental standards. This study presents effective reclamation strategies that can be used in similar situations worldwide. The reclamation allowed this land to be used for the construction of the M1 shopping center while minimizing environmental hazards. The study is based on a case study of the reclamation of this illegal landfill. The methods used in this project included the relocation of approximately 130,000 m³ of hazardous waste to a nearby site previously used for sand mining. Bentonite mats and geotextiles were used to prevent the migration of contaminants into the groundwater. The waste was layered with sand to assist in the structural stabilization of the site. In addition, proper waste segregation and drainage systems were implemented to manage water and prevent contamination. Eight years after the reclamation, post-remediation soil surveys showed significant improvements in soil quality and structural stability. Specifically, the Proctor Compaction Index (I_S) increased from an estimated 0.5–0.7 (for uncontrolled slope) to 0.98, indicating a high degree of compaction and soil stability, while arsenic and chromium levels were reduced by 98.4% and 98.1%, respectively. Reclamation also significantly reduced permeability and settlement rates, further improving the site’s suitability for construction. The cost-benefit analysis showed a cost saving of 37.7% through local waste relocation compared to off-site disposal, highlighting the economic efficiency and environmental benefits. The main conclusions of this study are that land reclamation effectively reduced environmental hazards; innovative solutions, such as bentonite mats, advanced waste sorting, geotextiles, and drainage systems, improved environmental quality; and the Łomianki case serves as a model for sustainable waste management practices. Full article

The revitalization of Fort Bema in Warsaw’s Bemowo district addresses the urgent need for sustainable urban development in degraded post-military areas. This study aims to explore innovative urban development strategies that effectively integrate historic preservation with modern housing solutions. Using a case study approach, the research employs SWOT analysis and examines public–private partnerships (PPP) to evaluate revitalization strategies. Key findings include an analysis of the factors that contributed to the successful transformation of 148 hectares of land, including the construction of the “Parkowo-Leśne” housing estate with 1637 apartments with a total area of 118,255.97 m² and volume of 669,982.73 m³. In addition, the Osmańczyka Street Housing Estate was developed on an area of 11.7 hectares, providing over 100,000 m² of residential space and buildings with a total volume of approximately 548,000 m³. The positive net migration trends observed during this period further confirm the development and attractiveness of the Bemowo district as a desirable residential area. These developments enhance community engagement and urban cohesion. The study concludes that flexible planning methods and stakeholder collaboration are essential to successful urban transformation. It recommends that similar projects adopt these strategies to balance development pressures with heritage conservation, thereby addressing housing shortages while preserving cultural significance. Full article

The rationale for this work arose from the urgency of improving the energy efficiency of buildings at the design stage, given the changing requirements of energy efficiency standards such as the Polish Technical Conditions (WT 2014 and WT 2020). This research is novel as there is currently limited information available on the improvement of the thermal performance of ventilated stone facade systems, although they are now widely used due to their practical and aesthetic advantages. The first objective of this work is to evaluate the thermal performance of the ventilated facades of the Praski Student House (Akademik Praski) and to assess how certain design variations can help achieve a lower level of energy consumption. Using a comprehensive case study approach, this study provides accurate thermal calculations of the facade to assess its global thermal insulation coefficient (Rt) and thermal transmittance (Uc). The improvement in the actual U-value from the original design is as follows: the U-value is reduced from 0.33 originally to 0.228 for WT 2014 and to 0.198 for WT 2020, showing a reduction of about 30.9% and 13.2%, respectively. These results indicate the energy efficiency of increased insulation thickness and optimally oriented air gap dimensions. The practical contributions of this research are valuable for architects, engineers, and contractors involved in the design and construction process of buildings aiming to achieve near-zero energy buildings (nZEBs), including concrete suggestions on how to improve current construction practices as well as material recommendations. There is a need for durability studies, for example to assess the performance of such facades under different climatic conditions, as part of future work to support these findings. Full article

The period from January 2020 to December 2022 was marked by a confluence of major events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia–Ukraine war, the energy crisis, surging inflation, Federal Reserve policy shifts, and banking turmoil, which collectively fueled heightened market volatility, risk management needs, and speculative trading opportunities, leading to volatile swings in trading volume concentration across financial markets, with periods of significant increases followed by rapid declines. This paper examines the variation in the concentration of trading volume across the full spectrum of S&P 500 companies, with a focus on explaining the reasons behind the stochastic changes in trading volume concentration. We analyze different concentration measurement methods, including the power law exponent, the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index, and the Gini-based Trading Concentration Index (TCI). The research employs a novel experimental design, comparing a concentration-driven portfolio, rebalanced daily based on the top 30 stocks by trading volume, against the S&P 500 benchmark. Our findings reveal that the Gini-based TCI fluctuated between 55.98% and 77.35% during the study period, with significant variations coinciding with major market events. The concentration-driven portfolio outperformed the S&P 500, achieving an annualized return of 10.66% compared to 5.89% for the index, with a superior Sharpe ratio of 0.325 versus 0.19. This performance suggests that following trading volume concentration can yield above-average results. However, this study also highlights the importance of understanding and managing the risks associated with concentrated portfolios. This study contributes to the literature on market dynamics and offers practical insights for investors and fund managers on optimizing portfolio strategies in response to evolving concentration patterns in financial markets. Full article

The US real estate market is a complex ecosystem influenced by multiple factors, making it critical for stakeholders to understand its dynamics. This study uses Zillow Econ (monthly) data from January 2018 to October 2023 across 100 major regions gathered through Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and advanced machine learning techniques, including radial kernel Support Vector Machines (SVMs), used to predict the sale-to-list ratio, a key metric that indicates the market health and competitiveness of the US real estate. Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) is used to identify influential variables that provide insight into market dynamics. Results show that SVM achieves approximately 85% accuracy, with temporal indicators such as Days to Pending and Days to Close, pricing dynamics such as Listing Price Cut and Share of Listings with Price Cut, and rental market conditions captured by the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) emerging as critical factors influencing the sale-to-list ratio. The comparison between SVM alphas and RFE highlights the importance of time, price, and rental market indicators in understanding market trends. This study underscores the interplay between these variables and provides actionable insights for stakeholders. By contextualizing the findings within the existing literature, this study emphasizes the importance of considering multiple factors in housing market analysis. Recommendations include using pricing dynamics and rental market conditions to inform pricing strategies and negotiation tactics. This study adds to the body of knowledge in real estate research and provides a foundation for informed decision-making in the ever-evolving real estate landscape. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the impact of Rekulter, a lignite-based fertilizer, on various soil parameters, with a focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices. A multi-year field trial was conducted in Klon, Poland, employing potentiometric techniques, spectrophotometry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze soil samples. Established laboratory procedures were used to assess pH value, sorption properties, granulometric composition, organic carbon content (OC), total nitrogen (TN), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenolic compounds (PCs), and the fractional composition of organic matter. Hypothesis-driven experiments, including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s HSD post hoc tests, were utilized to examine the effects of Rekulter application on soil characteristics. Significant differences were found in organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenolic compounds (PCs), and fractional organic matter composition among the Rekulter variants. This study underscores the dose-dependent effects of Rekulter on soil properties and provides insights into optimizing application rates for sustainable soil management. Recommendations include tailoring agricultural interventions based on soil characteristics and environmental considerations, integrating organic amendments with mineral fertilizers, and promoting balanced approaches to reclamation. This research contributes to ongoing efforts to improve agricultural sustainability and mitigate environmental impacts, guiding practices that balance productivity with environmental stewardship. Full article

This study examines the dynamic relationship between the business cycle and the construction sector activity in 27 EU countries, focusing on Poland. Using the cross-correlation function (CCF) and a set of economic- and construction-related variables, including GDP growth, construction production, building permits, and construction operating time by backlog, quarterly data from 2000Q1 to 2023Q2 (94 quarters in total) are analyzed. Beyond the CCF analysis, causality is also examined using Toda–Yamamoto tests to explore the nuanced temporal relationships between GDP growth and construction activity proxies. The research uncovers synchronized positive lag max results for construction production, suggesting a harmonized response to broader economic changes, especially within 9 to 11 quarters. In contrast, building permits and construction time by backlog show divergent positive lag max values, suggesting the need for tailored, localized strategies. Negative lag max values emphasize the anticipatory role of the construction sector as an early indicator of economic change. Overcoming methodological challenges, this study provides insights critical for policymakers and researchers, promoting a nuanced understanding of economic synchrony and guiding informed strategies for sustainable development. Future recommendations include refining localized strategies based on lag patterns for optimal economic management. Full article

In 2022, Poland and Germany experienced a prolonged and extensive mass fish kill in the Odra River. During the period from the end of July to the beginning of September 2022, a high level of incidental disease and mortality was observed in various fish species (dozens of different species were found dead). The fish mortality affected five Polish provinces (Silesia, Opole, Lower Silesia, Lubuskie, and Western Pomerania) and involved reservoir systems covering most of the river (the Odra River is 854 km long, of which 742 km are in Poland). Fatal cases were investigated using toxicological, anatomopathological, and histopathological tests. Water samples were collected to determine nutrient status in the water column, phytoplankton biomass, and community composition. High nutrient concentrations indicated high phytoplankton productivity, with favorable conditions for golden algal blooms. The harmful toxins (prymnesins secreted by Prymnesium parvum habitats) had not been found in Poland before, but it was only a matter of time, especially in the Odra River, whose waters are permanently saline and still used for navigation. The observed fish mortality resulted in a 50% decrease in the fish population in the river and affected mainly cold-blooded species. Histopathological examinations of fish showed acute damage to the most perfused organs (gills, spleen, kidneys). The disruption to hematopoietic processes and damage to the gills were due to the action of hemolytic toxins (prymnesins). An evaluation of the collected hydrological, meteorological, biological, and physico-chemical data on the observed spatio-temporal course of the catastrophe, as well as the detection of three compounds from the group of B-type prymnesins in the analyzed material (the presence of prymnesins was confirmed using an analysis of the fragmentation spectrum and the accurate tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) measurement, in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), allowed the formulation and subsequent testing of the hypothesis for a direct link between the observed fish mortality and the presence of prymnesins in the Odra River. This article systematizes what is known about the causes of the fish kill in the Odra River in 2022, based on official government reports (one Polish and one German) and the EU technical report by the Joint Research Centre. A review and critical analysis of government findings (Polish and German) on this disaster were conducted in the context of what is known to date about similar cases of mass fish kills. Full article

The worsening housing problems of young adults in many countries have become a worldwide problem. Researchers point to a number of factors that influence young people’s decisions to own or rent their own apartments or houses. The term generation of renters or the lost generation has appeared in the literature in relation to the young adult generation. This article offers insights into the housing preferences of young adults aged 18 to 45 in Poland, with a particular focus on the renter cohort. Conclusions are drawn about whether young adults who are already renting prefer to buy an apartment or house rather than maintain their status quo, and what determines their decisions in this regard. The study identifies a number of socioeconomic factors that influence the housing decisions of young renters in Poland. It addresses some of the problems and challenges of today’s housing market and, in particular, examines what leads young Polish renters to switch from renting to buying their first home or, alternatively, to live in a rented apartment for years (thus showing indifference to homeownership). Some of the reasons for the change in attitude toward this issue are highlighted. The study is quantitative in nature, relying on an online survey and a mediation analysis that is particularly well suited to explaining the relationship between many different variables. Of the eight hypotheses tested in the study (using mediation analysis), only three could be proven, namely that the amount of rent payments and other costs for economic reasons influences the willingness to buy an apartment or a house, and also that the length of the rental period has a negative influence on the willingness to buy a house. Finally, the mediation model provides evidence that the higher a young renter’s tolerance threshold for mortgage interest compared to “rent payments”, the more inclined they are to buy an apartment or house. The study suggests that the housing finance subsystem has some shortcomings as far as financing young people is concerned. Strategically, there are two complementary solutions that could be implemented: (1) a long-term home savings plan or program and (2) innovative housing loan options tailored to the financial situation of young people. Full article

The aim of this study is to extract impervious surfaces and show their spatial distribution, using different machine learning algorithms. For this purpose, geoprocessing and remote sensing techniques were used and three classification methods for digital images were compared, namely Support Vector Machines (SVM), Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Random Trees (RT) classifiers. The study area is one of the most prestigious and the largest housing estates in Warsaw (Poland), the Fort Bema housing complex, which is also an exemplary model for hydrological solutions. The study was prepared on the Geographic Information System platform (GIS) using aerial optical images, orthorectified and thus provided with a suitable coordinate system. The use of these data is therefore supported by the accuracy of the resulting infrared channel product with a pixel size of 0.25 m, making the results much more accurate compared to satellite imagery. The results of the SVM, ML and RT classifiers were compared using the confusion matrix, accuracy (Root Mean Square Error /RMSE/) and kappa index. This showed that the three algorithms were able to successfully discriminate between targets. Overall, the three classifiers had errors, but specifically for impervious surfaces, the highest accuracy was achieved with the SVM classifier (the highest percentage of overall accuracy), followed by ML and RT with 91.51%, 91.35% and 84.52% of the results, respectively. A comparison of the visual results and the confusion matrix shows that although visually the RT method appears to be the most detailed classification into pervious and impervious surfaces, the results were not always correct, e.g., water/shadow was detected as an impervious surface. The NDVI index was also mapped for the same spatial study area and its application in the evaluation of pervious surfaces was explained. The results obtained with the GIS platform, presented in this paper, provide a better understanding of how these advanced classifiers work, which in turn can provide insightful guidance for their selection and combination in real-world applications. The paper also provides an overview of the main works/studies dealing with impervious surface mapping, with different methods for their assessment (including the use of conventional remote sensing, NDVI, multisensory and cross-source data, ‘social sensing’ and classification methods such as SVM, ML and RT), as well as an overview of the research results. Full article

Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols use blockchain-based tools to mimic banking, investment and trading solutions and provide a viable framework that creates incentives and conditions for the development of an alternative financial services market. In this respect, they can be seen as alternative financial vehicles that mitigate portfolio risk, which is particularly important at a time of increasing uncertainty in financial markets. In particular, some DeFi protocols offer an automated, low-risk way to generate returns through a “delta-neutral” trading strategy that reduces volatility. The main financial operations of DeFi protocols are implemented using appropriate algorithms, but unlike traditional finance, where issues of value and valuation are commonplace, DeFis lack a similar value-based analysis. The aim of this study is to evaluate relevant DeFi performance metrics related to the valuations of these protocols through a thorough analysis based on various scientific methods and to show what influences the valuations of these protocols. More specifically, the study identifies how DeFi protocol valuations depend on the total value locked and other performance variables, such as protocol revenue, total revenue, gross merchandise volume and inflation factor, and assesses these relationships. The study analyzes the valuations of 30 selected protocols representing three different classes of DeFi (i.e., decentralized exchanges, lending protocols and asset management) in relation to their respective performance measures. The analysis presented in the article is quantitative in nature and relies on Granger causality tests as well as the results of a fixed effects panel regression model. The results show that the valuations of DeFi protocols depend to some extent on the performance measures of these protocols under study, although the magnitude of the relationships and their directions differ for the different variables. The Granger causality test could not confirm that future DeFi protocol valuations can be effectively predicted by the TVLs of these protocols, while other directions of causality (one-way and two-way) were confirmed, e.g., a two-way causal relationship between DeFi protocol valuations and gross merchandise volume, which turned out to be the only variable that Granger-causes future DeFi protocol valuations. Full article

The future of opencast mining and energy production based on conventional resources is one of the most important issues being discussed in international forums. The whole discussion is becoming increasingly heated and takes on a special significance with the drastic increase in energy commodity prices that has occurred with the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Especially in a country like Poland, these issues are accompanied by heated discussions between miners, the government and citizens. It should be emphasised that Polish lignite mining currently produces about 35% of the cheapest electricity in Poland and also creates many jobs. The aim of this study is to assess the possibility of continuing opencast mining and its impact on rural development—both from an environmental and socio-economic point of view. The study was conducted for two municipalities in Poland where opencast lignite mining plays an important role, namely Kleszczów and Kleczew. As a result, it was found that in the case of the studied municipalities, the presence of opencast mining has contributed to their development, and the application of modern environmental protection technologies and recultivation have reduced the difficulties associated with mining. On the other hand, the decision to start mining should be the result of a comparison between the potential environmental and social benefits and damages. In some cases, mining is beneficial for community development and leads to new opportunities for agriculture and tourism after reclamation. The study is a combination of different methods, i.e., case studies, GIS remote sensing analysis (based on Landsat data) and econometric analysis for selected socio-economic data. Full article

Urban flooding is an increasingly common phenomenon around the world. The reasons are usually attributed to the insufficient capacity of the combined sewer system and its inability to adapt to the changing dynamics of rainfall. This is also the case in Warsaw (the capital of Poland), where the sewage system was designed in the 1960s. The aim of the article is to highlight possible hydrological solutions that would significantly improve Warsaw’s situation in terms of rainfall runoff. The article looks at some solutions that were previously mentioned in the literature and presents an assessment of the possible changes in land use/land cover on the hydrological processes and improvements in the general hydrological situation of Warsaw. In addition, the article points out the need to update the programme and spatial approach to the discharge of water from specific watersheds in Warsaw, as well as to establish a single manager for stormwater drainage in the city of Warsaw. An important issue is the restoration of natural retention basins in the city and the construction of artificial basins in places with frequent local flooding. The article emphasises the importance of building individual detention basins (as well as low-impact developments) for newly planned investments. Other important aspects are as follows: the construction of suitable underground or open channels, the need to disconnect Ursynów’s stormwater runoff from the catchment area of the Służewiecki Stream and to channel it along the southern bypass for Warsaw (S-2) to the dry lakes and ponds in Wilanów. Finally, the article discusses the application of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Real-Time Control (RTC) in urban drainage systems as a possible solution to improve wastewater management in urban areas. Full article

The worsening of housing problems in many countries has become a topic of global interest. Researchers point to a variety of factors that influence individual housing tenure decisions. Our study is based on longitudinal English Housing Survey (EHS) data (2008–2009 to 2019–2020, with survey years matching financial years, i.e., running April–March) and identifies flows between different forms of housing tenure in the U.K. and analyses conditional dependencies of a range of EHS variables using a directed acyclic graph (DAG). More specifically, we take into account variables such as first-time buyers (FTB), mortgage payments, rent payments, share of mortgage/rent in household income, and receipt of housing benefit (HB), with some variables also reflecting a regional breakdown (captured separately for London and England excluding London) to illustrate the complex nature of regional differences in explaining changes in housing tenure. We address some of the problems and challenges of the housing market in the U.K. today, and, in particular, examine what influences private renters and those buying with a mortgage. A key conclusion from this study is that housing benefit does not necessarily ease the way for private renters into their own housing. The study is quantitative in nature and uses the English Housing Survey and Bayesian network (BN) analysis. Unlike traditional methods, such as multiple regression or panel regression, where the researcher somehow suggests the type of a relationship between certain variables, BN’s learning algorithm analyses different iterations between variables and finds the most appropriate relationships between them. Full article

In this article, we present our own construction process model consisting of 16 stages and eight phases, which is particularly applicable to large investment projects. In the context of each project phase, we examine how the appropriate way of scheduling construction processes affects the problem of the risk of prolonging individual phases and the whole project, as well as of not meeting deadlines (which is one of the main problems faced by management practitioners in the construction industry). There are many methods for assessing risk in this context, but they tend to be overly complex and rarely used by construction practitioners. On the other hand, the risks associated with potential schedule delays can be considered holistically. One tool that can serve this purpose is the combined Monte Carlo simulation and Time-at-Risk (TaR) approach, which originates from the world of finance. We show how the implementation of the process model (individual phases) and the whole project can be considered in the context of the covariance matrix between all its phases and how changes in the arrangement of these phases can affect the risk of time extension of the whole project. Our study is based on simulation data for a large development project (Fort Bema/Parkowo-Leśne housing estate complex) in Bemowo, a district of Warsaw, carried out between 1999 and 2012. The entire investment project involved the construction of almost 120,000 m² of floor space. Full article