Search Results (366)

Urban stormwater poses a threat to urban safety and development. The systematic spatial planning of low-impact development (LID) facilities is increasingly recognized as a sustainable approach to enhancing urban flood resilience. Previous studies have largely focused on empirically-based design approaches or have employed uncoupled computational methods, resulting in a lack of accuracy in flood simulation results. In this study, a novel framework was proposed. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II was employed to perform multi-objective optimization of the spatial layout of LID facilities, and a coupled model of SWMM and TELEMAC was developed to simulate surface flooding based on the optimized schemes. Under three rainfall scenarios, three schemes on the Pareto Front—representing the lowest cost, the optimal compromise and the least overflow—were selected to investigate how scheme parameters and overflow are influenced by rainfall intensity and design preferences. The results indicate that scheme parameters and node overflow show greater variation under the influence of different design preferences than under different rainfall conditions. Taking the schemes selected in this study as examples, under the lowest-cost scheme, LID coverage was less than 10%, resulting in a limited reduction in node overflow; but when ‘minimum overflow’ was set as the design preference, node overflow was virtually eliminated, with peak water levels at flood-prone locations reduced to 0.05 m, 0.08 m and 0.10 m under 50-year, 100-year and 200-year storm conditions, respectively. The framework for urban flooding simulation and flood control scheme design proposed in this study is potentially applicable to comparable settings, subject to similar data availability and physical conditions, serving as a reference for enhancing urban resilience to flooding. Full article

Background: Hospital water systems are major environmental reservoirs of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but evidence on the long-term impact of Water Safety Plans (WSPs) on environmental prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm-forming ability remains limited. This study evaluated the long-term occurrence of P. aeruginosa in a hospital water distribution system over a 15-year surveillance period. Methods: A 15-year environmental surveillance study was conducted in a tertiary-care hospital in Northern Italy. Water samples were cultured for P. aeruginosa, and recovered isolates were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm-forming ability. Temporal trends were analysed using generalized linear and segmented logistic regression models. Results: Among 1696 water samples, the overall prevalence of P. aeruginosa was 2.93%, with a significant annual decline of 12% (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82–0.94; p < 0.001). Segmented regression identified a marked reduction after the fourth year (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.06–0.55; p = 0.003). Over time, isolates shifted toward weak or non-biofilm-producing phenotypes while maintaining high antimicrobial susceptibility, with only one multidrug-resistant isolate detected. Conclusions: Long-term surveillance integrated within a comprehensive WSP was associated with reduced P. aeruginosa contamination, decreased biofilm-forming ability, and persistently low antimicrobial resistance. Full article

Maritime navigation efficiency is commonly assessed using isolated route, speed, energy, or traffic indicators that do not fully represent voyage context. This study proposes a context-aware framework based on GPS–AIS data fusion, planned-route geofencing, metocean information, and encounter-based validation. The Navigation Efficiency Resilience Index (NERI) combines target achievement, trajectory-derived response activity, and disturbance intensity into a bounded, time-resolved diagnostic index. The framework was evaluated using a Singapore–Montevideo container-ship voyage with 30 s position data, surrounding-vessel AIS, corridor-specific cross-track limits, and collocated metocean variables. The voyage-level mean NERI was 0.679, and its 10th percentile was 0.519. Lower values occurred mainly in constrained waters, approach areas, and the metocean-intensive Cape transition, whereas the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic legs achieved higher mean values of 0.704 and 0.736, respectively. For the analysed datasets, the regular own-ship position record produced more stable trajectory-derived indicators than the less regularly sampled own-ship AIS series, without implying an inherent accuracy advantage. The full NERI formulation achieved an AUROC of 0.83 and an AUPRC of 0.41 for CPA/TCPA conflict-window classification. NERI therefore provides a decomposable, plan-relative analytical layer for retrospective voyage monitoring and diagnostics, but it is not a direct safety or collision-risk measure. Full article

Irrigation water quality is a crucial factor for agricultural sustainability and food safety, particularly amid climate change, water scarcity, and inadequate rural infrastructure. This study identifies the behavioral and structural factors associated with the adoption of eight water contamination prevention practices among smallholder farmers in central Chile, including irrigation canal cleaning, use of water filters, rainwater collection systems, and irrigation methods that avoid contact between edible crop parts and water. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), behavioral constructs were integrated with structural features of production systems to capture both cognitive and contextual drivers of adoption. A survey of 101 farmers in the O’Higgins Region was conducted, and a binary logistic regression model was applied (n = 96; AUC = 0.821). Results indicate that adoption was significantly associated with favorable attitudes toward preventive practices (OR = 1.16; p = 0.014) and supportive subjective norms (OR = 1.21; p = 0.037), while perceived behavioral control showed no significant effect. Among structural factors, the use of modern irrigation technologies was the strongest predictor (OR = 16.55; p < 0.001), followed by diversified production systems (OR = 14.55; p = 0.003) and the cultivation of fruit trees or vines (OR = 9.00; p = 0.002). These findings indicate that attitudinal and normative factors are more consistently associated with adoption when supported by enabling infrastructure and production conditions. They underscore the need for integrated policy approaches that align motivational and material components to promote sustainable water management practices in resource-constrained agricultural contexts. Full article

Global environmental change, biodiversity loss, emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and widening social inequalities increasingly interact to create complex risks for human, animal, and ecosystem health. Although international One Health frameworks and funding mechanisms are essential, implementation at national and especially community levels often remains uneven, fragmented, and weakly evaluated. This Perspective presents a structured, reproducible networking model designed to strengthen community-level One Health implementation through voluntary global collaboration among civil society organisations. The model connects bottom-up community mobilisation with interdisciplinary scientific support, shared evaluation templates, and iterative learning cycles. It outlines a transparent process for identifying and engaging One Health-oriented organisations and for organising their collaboration through thematic Project Working Groups that support situation analysis, strategic planning, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. The framework translates community action into seven intervention fields: surveillance and early warning, animal health and welfare, water/sanitation/hygiene, food safety and food systems, community awareness and education, environmental risks and ecosystem health, and multisectoral governance. By linking local practice to comparative synthesis, joint publication, and policy dialogue, the network aims to transform isolated initiatives into a coordinated learning system while preserving community and organisational autonomy. As a conceptual framework, the model is ready for empirical testing in diverse settings to assess feasibility, participation, and evaluation quality. Full article

This study aims to assess the impact of the October 2023 Gaza War on water and sanitation systems and propose actionable solutions for effective management. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative). Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews, targeted questionnaires, and direct field observations. Secondary data were gathered from reports by international organizations (UNRWA, OCHA, WHO), Palestinian authorities, academic research, in addition to satellite imagery and Geographic Information System (GIS) data for damage assessment. The results showed that the institutional level of emergency preparedness before the war varied significantly. Despite the existence of pre-developed emergency plans (mean score 3.26, relative weight 65.28%, p = 0.0355), there were significant shortcomings in practical staff training (mean score 2.64, relative weight 52.83%, p = 0.006), logistical readiness, and the activation of international partnerships. The study also revealed major challenges faced in providing water and sanitation services during the war, including fuel and resource shortages, safety risks for field teams, weak coordination with security agencies, lack of materials and equipment, insufficient emergency funding, coordination gaps, staff displacement, communication breakdowns, difficulty accessing water sources, area division and blockade, and loss of personnel. Specifically, the inability to access water sources was a critical challenge (mean score 4.30, relative weight 86.04%, p < 0.0001), as was indiscriminate shelling impacting field team safety (mean score 4.19, relative weight 83.77%, p < 0.0001) and lack of materials and equipment (mean score 4.15, relative weight 83.02%, p < 0.0001). Residents reported water availability only every 10–15 days, and over 70% of water and sanitation systems were damaged. While funding proposals were being prepared (mean score 3.26, relative weight 65.28%, p = 0.02), weaknesses in reporting systems and coordination of roles were observed (mean score 2.55, relative weight 50.94%, p < 0.0001). The research contributes to guiding local and international efforts towards reconstruction, enhancing resilience, and ensuring the provision of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for the affected population, thereby reducing the risks of waterborne diseases and improving public health. Full article

Accurate prediction and uncertainty quantification of tunnel water inflow are critical for construction safety, risk mitigation, and groundwater-control planning. However, conventional analytical and numerical methods are often limited by simplified assumptions and high computational cost, while many machine learning models lack reliable uncertainty quantification. To address these limitations, this study proposes a framework by coupling vine copula dependence modeling with sparse polynomial chaos expansion (SPCE). The framework utilizes a vine copula to characterize the asymmetric dependence among input parameters. Two distinct approaches are used to construct the SPCE models: the arbitrary polynomial chaos expansion (aPCE) method, assuming independence in the original space, and the Rosenblatt transform-based polynomial chaos expansion (Rt-PCE) method, which maps correlated inputs into an independent space via the Rosenblatt transform to establish rigorous orthogonal polynomials. Validation using a database of 600 cases shows that SPCE models achieve point accuracy comparable to artificial neural network (ANN) and Gaussian process regression (GPR) with superior numerical stability. Notably, Rt-PCE yields the best predictive robustness and outperforms both benchmarks in probability density fitting, particularly in capturing extreme tail behavior. Furthermore, the study confirms that neglecting input dependence biases probability estimations, whereas vine copula-based modeling effectively captures both the central tendency and tail features of inflow distributions. The proposed framework provides decision support for resource-efficient intervention planning under uncertain hydrogeological conditions. Full article

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan transmitted by environmentally persistent oocysts and by tissue cysts in infected prey or meat. Although wild cervids and wild canids are increasingly used as wildlife sentinels, their complementary ecological roles in integrated T. gondii surveillance have not been comprehensively synthesized. This structured narrative review compares infection evidence in five wild cervid species and three wild canid species to examine how feeding ecology shapes exposure and to assess their complementary value in wildlife surveillance. Peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2026 was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies reporting evidence of T. gondii exposure or infection in wild cervids or wild canids were included, with serological evidence evaluated separately from molecular or histological detection. Cervids showed geographically variable exposure consistent with ingestion of oocysts from contaminated vegetation, soil, and water, supporting their use as sentinels of environmental contamination. Wild canids often showed higher reported seropositivity, although direct comparisons were limited by assay, sampling, and demographic heterogeneity. Their predatory, scavenging, and omnivorous diets allow access to both environmental oocysts and tissue cysts. Cervids and canids should therefore be treated as complementary rather than interchangeable indicators: cervids primarily reflect environmental exposure, whereas canids integrate environmental and trophic transmission. This review provides an ecological framework to support integrated One Health wildlife surveillance by combining environmental and trophic indicators for improved risk assessment and food-safety planning. Full article

Slope stability has consistently been a critical concern in mountainous road sections, with precipitation being the most significant factor precipitating slope instability. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of slope instability under precipitation conditions and the extent of the impact of internal disaster-causing factors. To achieve this objective, a numerical simulation analysis method combining GeoStudio2018R2 and FLAC3D7.0 software was employed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of an unstable slope in Xinjiang. Regarding research methodology, cyclic precipitation and seasonal snowmelt were considered as external influencing factors. Initially, a two-dimensional model was constructed using GeoStudio software to analyze the spatial and temporal variations in pore water pressure and moisture content within the slope, elucidating their dynamic characteristics at different temporal and spatial scales. Subsequently, a three-dimensional numerical model was established using FLAC3D software to conduct a detailed analysis of the stress–strain state of the slope under various conditions, thereby obtaining disaster parameters such as displacement and sliding velocity in different directions. Through further comparison and verification of the overall stability analysis results of the slope obtained from both software packages, it was observed that they exhibited a consistent trend. The research findings indicate that under conditions of high-intensity short-term precipitation, the safety factor of the slope decreases to the lowest level, potentially leading to shallow landslides with smaller displacement but faster sliding velocity. Conversely, seasonal snowmelt and long-term localized precipitation have a more profound impact on the internal structure of the slope, with the sliding zone potentially penetrating into the deep bedrock. Although the occurrence frequency is low, the impact range is extensive. By combining two-dimensional and three-dimensional analyses, a comprehensive assessment of the different disaster-causing factors of the slope was conducted, enhancing the accuracy of the analysis results. The research findings provide a scientific basis and reference value for the formulation of subsequent slope protection and monitoring plans. Full article

Desertification is a serious environmental challenge in regions with desert landscapes, such as the Khorezm Oasis in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Low precipitation rates and shortages of irrigation water have driven dynamic changes in desert-related land use and land cover (LULC) classes, threatening environmental and food security. This study aims to assess desertification safety levels in the Khorezm oasis using geospatial technologies to better understand spatiotemporal dynamics and to support sustainable agricultural management. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was used for desertification assessment. Annual mean values of key indicators—land surface temperature, vegetation index, groundwater (GW) depth, wind speed, soil erodibility (K-factor), precipitation, normalized enhanced sand index, maximum air temperature, and LULC classes—were analyzed for the period 2000–2023. The results indicate that the normalized enhanced sand index and LULC classes exert the strongest influence on desertification processes. Areas classified as high to very high desertification hazard are predominantly concentrated in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, covering a total area of 2345.65 km². Ongoing water shortages in the Amu Darya River basin pose a significant risk of further expansion of desertified areas. The findings provide valuable insights for regional land management and desertification mitigation planning. Full article

The increasing frequency of floods and the severity of their consequences for public safety, infrastructure, and the economy demand improved methods for flood hazard identification. Flood studies that include flood hazard mapping are critical tools for informing emergency response and flood recovery, as well as for land use and mitigation planning. The methodology for such flood studies has evolved, and access to more powerful computational resources and high-resolution base data has contributed to the increased use of two-dimensional hydraulic modelling, where one-dimensional modelling previously was the default. However, local-scale flood studies face real-world constraints, including sparse data, challenging hydrologic conditions, and budget limitations, which can hinder the application of advanced techniques. This study addresses these challenges through innovative, practice-driven solutions in two case studies in Alberta, Canada: a small, partly channelized prairie stream network (Wolf Creek, Lacombe) and a laterally dynamic river on a distributary delta (Swan River, Kinuso). Three core components of flood hazard studies are described: field survey data collection, regional hydrology assessment, and hydraulic modelling. Key findings include demonstrating that LiDAR-derived terrain models alone cannot capture channel conveyance, the importance of low-flow calibration in the absence of high-water marks, the selection of a modelling methodology based on bathymetric and topographic features within a study area, and the development of inflow hydrographs for unsteady-state simulation in flat floodplains. Full article

Hydro-dominant distribution grids with high penetrations of distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation exhibit a clear operational asymmetry. PV output changes rapidly at the minute scale, whereas hydropower regulation is constrained by reservoir water balance, turbine ramping capability, and hydraulic safety limits. During high-inflow periods, mandatory hydropower generation further reduces the downward regulation margin and restricts midday PV accommodation. To address this issue, this paper develops an asymmetry-aware adaptive bi-level planning framework for photovoltaic hosting capacity (PVHC) assessment. A db4 discrete wavelet transform is used to decompose PV output into low-frequency energy trends and high-frequency fluctuation components. The upper layer performs hourly economic dispatch while maintaining reservoir water balance, and the lower layer conducts minute-level constrained tracking under ramping and vibration-zone avoidance constraints. A bisection-type capacity-search procedure is then used to identify the PVHC boundary by jointly checking curtailment, ramping, frequency proxy, voltage, line-loading, point-of-common-coupling exchange, and vibration-zone residence constraints. Case studies based on a 15 min PV dataset from a 30 MW station, hydropower operation records, and a modified 15-node feeder in Southwest China show that hydrological asymmetry materially affects PV accommodation. The obtained PVHC ranges from 53.17 MW under the most restrictive high-proxy condition to 65.33 MW under low-proxy operation. Compared with the no-coordination case, representative-month PVHC increases from 49.80 MW to 65.33 MW, while the simulated residence time within the predefined vibration-prone zone decreases from 447 min to 0 min. These results indicate that PVHC evaluation in hydro-dominant feeders should jointly consider electrical constraints, hydrological asymmetry, and hydraulic safety limits. Full article

Background: Access to safe drinking water remains a critical public health concern in rural Ghana, particularly in climatically vulnerable and underserved settings. This study assessed the microbiological and chemical quality of drinking water and evaluated nitrate-related health risks in the North Gonja and North-East Gonja Districts of the Savannah Region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2025. A total of 460 water samples were collected from groundwater sources and household storage containers. Microbial analyses targeted total coliforms and Escherichia coli. Physicochemical and chemical parameters included nitrate-nitrogen, pH, residual chlorine, major ions, and trace metals. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, spatial interpolation, and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment based on the hazard quotient (HQ) approach. Results: Widespread microbial contamination was observed, with 91.5% of household water samples positive for total coliforms and 46.6% for E. coli. Contamination of source water was significantly higher in North Gonja than in North-East Gonja. Overall, 49.1% (n = 55) of groundwater sources exceeded the World Health Organization guideline value for nitrate-nitrogen, with exceedances predominantly occurring in North Gonja. Additionally, 67.0% (n = 75) of samples were outside the acceptable pH range (6.5–8.5), including 74 samples below 6.5 and one above 8.5. Residual chlorine was not detected in any of the samples. Health risk assessment indicated potential non-carcinogenic risks associated with nitrate exposure, particularly among infants and children. Conclusions: The study demonstrates significant microbial contamination and nitrate-related health risks in the study area, particularly in North Gonja. Interventions such as improved source protection, routine water quality monitoring, chlorination, household water treatment, and implementation of Water Safety Plans are recommended to enhance drinking water safety and reduce associated public health risks. Full article

Ammonia is a promising zero-carbon energy carrier for maritime decarbonisation, but its deployment is limited by safety risks that are not adequately addressed by conventional marine fuel safety frameworks. This study critically reviews safety assessment, risk management and control strategies for ammonia storage and handling in maritime applications using a PRISMA-informed literature synthesis. Evidence is analysed across hazard characterisation, storage configurations, transfer operations, risk assessment methods, mitigation barriers and regulatory frameworks. The review shows that ammonia safety is governed by coupled release–exposure–barrier interactions shaped by storage condition, tank configuration, pressure–temperature behaviour, material compatibility, transfer mode, ventilation, ship geometry and human intervention. Existing methods, including HAZID, HAZOP, risk matrices and QRA, support hazard screening and prioritisation, but remain limited in representing flashing two-phase releases, dense gas dispersion, confined-space accumulation, exposure duration, ventilation effectiveness and safeguard timing under maritime conditions. CFD, FTA, Bayesian approaches and Monte Carlo analysis offer higher analytical resolution, but their reliability is constrained by limited validation data, uncertain leak-frequency inputs and simplified assumptions for human exposure and emergency response. Effective risk control therefore requires a toxicity-centred barrier strategy linking containment integrity, ammonia-compatible materials, gas and process monitoring, emergency shutdown, ventilation, water-based mitigation, PPE, competency-based training and emergency planning. Current regulatory and classification guidance provides an essential foundation but remains fragmented and insufficiently aligned with ammonia-specific requirements for exposure modelling, safety-zone definition and approval pathways. This review contributes a maritime-specific synthesis of ammonia storage and handling safety by connecting hazard behaviour, storage design, transfer operations, risk assessment limitations, control-barrier logic and regulatory approval needs. The findings highlight the need for validated source-term models, full-scale release and dispersion data, exposure-based safety criteria and harmonised regulatory pathways to support the safe and scalable use of ammonia in maritime decarbonisation. Full article

With the rapid development of offshore wind energy toward deep water, the structural safety of truss-type legs for jack-up wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) under complex operational and environmental loads has become a key concern. This study focuses on the directional coupling effect between crane slewing angles and wave directions, which has rarely been systematically investigated in previous research. A finite element model of a 1500 t-class WTIV truss leg is established using SESAM, and its reliability is verified by mesh convergence analysis and literature comparison. The influences of crane slewing angle, wave direction, and their coupling on structural displacement and stress are analyzed quantitatively, and strength evaluation is carried out under typical working conditions in accordance with classification society rules. The results show that the structural response presents significant directional dependence and stiffness anisotropy. The peak displacement and stress occur at a crane slewing angle of 270°, with the maximum displacement approximately 33% higher than the minimum value. Obvious response amplification is observed when the crane slewing angle and wave direction are aligned within 225–270°, which constitutes the most unfavorable loading combination. The strength assessment demonstrates that all conditions meet the specification requirements, and the survival condition is the most critical, with a maximum stress of 289.66 MPa and a maximum displacement of 338.6 mm. This study reveals the coupling mechanism between operational loads and environmental loads and identifies the critical dangerous angle sector. The research findings can provide reasonable references for offshore lifting operation management and operational planning of marine truss leg structures. Full article