Search Results (5)

To achieve sustainable development, the transition from a fossil-based economy to a circular economy is essential. The use of renewable energy sources to make the overall carbon foot print more favorable is an important pre-requisite. In this context, it is crucial to valorize all renewable resources through an optimized local integration. One opportunity arises through the synergy between bioresources and green hydrogen. Through techno-economic assessments, this work analyzes four local case studies that integrate bio-based processes with green hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable energy sources. An analysis of the use of webGIS tools (i.e., Atlas of Biorefineries of IEA Bioenergy) to identify existing biorefineries that require hydrogen in relation to territories with a potential availability of green hydrogen, has never been conducted before. This paper provides an evaluation of the production costs of the target products as a function of the local green hydrogen supply costs. The results revealed that the impact of green hydrogen costs could vary widely, ranging from 1% to 95% of the total production costs, depending on the bio-based target product evaluated. Additionally, hydrogen demand in the target area could require an installed variable renewable energy capacity of 20 MW and 500 MW. On the whole, the local integration of biorefineries and green hydrogen could represent an optimal opportunity to make hydrogenated bio-based products 100% renewable. Full article

In this study, we aimed to further the international discussion on the methodology of applying GIS technology to the editing of large-scale cadastral maps, taking the experience of editing the cadastral map of Toruń from 1910–1915 as an example. We present the concept of building a georeferential spatial database of topographic–historical objects (GSDoT-HO), which includes the stages involved in creating the database, its exemplary structure, and a proposal of good practices in this process, which were developed in the course of previous projects using a geographic information system for Historical Atlases of Polish Towns. Our works included the scanning, calibration, and rectification of a total of 178 sheets of cadastral maps (including 154 sheets of the map of Toruń and 24 sheets of the cadastral map of the then-village of Mokre) at differentiated scales of 1:250, 1:500, 1:1000, and 1:2000. Finally, in the process of vectorization, vector and attribute data were acquired, which made up the final result in the form of GSDoT-HOs. This database was created out of seven information layers with linear or polygon geometries, including the two most important layers, i.e., plots and buildings, which for the then-area of the city of Toruń, contained approximately 5800 and 10,800 vectorised polygon objects, respectively. This article shifts the focus of the discussion of standards in the use of GIS technology to edit Historic Towns Atlases from the development of interactive maps to the construction of a database that should enable comparative studies of urban spaces. Full article

Background: The health crisis due to COVID-19 has changed the habits of social coexistence and therefore has had a significant impact on several economic sectors, including logistics. Nowadays, this sector faces one of the most difficult challenges in history and hence has carried out innovative strategies to adjust to the new normal and guarantee the permanence of the supply chain. In this paper, a novel green logistics technique for planning merchandise deliveries is introduced herein. Methods: This technique is based on a modified version of the Resistive Grid Path Planning Methodology (RGPPM) to establish a path through georeferential locations for delivering merchandise to customers. To do this, multi-connected resistive grids are based at customer locations for searching the path connecting the positions through electronic circuit analysis techniques. Results: Experimental results reveal that the proposed method can find a minimum spanning tree that connects all hand-over points by a continuous path. This finding has represented a reduction of around 45% in the length of the path with respect to the longest path. Conclusions: Finally, this technique is capable of addressing different optimization strategies, locating a merchandise distribution center and exploring environmental standards to reduce fuel consumption. Full article

The impact of waste incinerators is usually examined by measuring environmental pollutants. Biomonitoring has been limited, until now, to few metals and to adults. We explored accumulation of a comprehensive panel of metals in children free-living in an urban area hosting two waste incinerators. Children were divided by georeferentiation in exposed and control groups, and toenail concentrations of 23 metals were thereafter assessed. The percentage of children having toenail metal concentrations above the limit of detection was higher in exposed children than in controls for Al, Ba, Mn, Cu, and V. Exposed children had higher absolute concentrations of Ba, Mn, Cu, and V, as compared with those living in the reference area. The Tobit regression identified living in the exposed area as a significant predictor of Ba, Ni, Cu, Mn, and V concentrations, after adjusting for covariates. The concentrations of Ba, Mn, Ni, and Cu correlated with each other, suggesting a possible common source of emission. Exposure to emissions derived from waste incinerators in an urban setting can lead to body accumulation of specific metals in children. Toenail metal concentration should be considered a noninvasive and adequate biomonitoring tool and an early warning indicator which should integrate the environmental monitoring of pollutants. Full article

Background: At global level, the vulnerability of aquifers is deteriorating at an alarming rate due to environmental pollution and intensive human activities. In this context, Local Health Authority ASL Lecce has launched the M.I.N.O.Re. (Not Compulsory Water Monitoring Activities at Regional level) project, in order to assess the vulnerability of the aquifer in Salento area (Puglia Region) by performing several non-compulsory analyses on groundwater samples. This first paper describes the quali-quantitative approach adopted under the M.I.N.O.Re. project for the assessment of environmental pressures suffered by groundwater and determines the number of wells to be monitored in specific sampling areas on the basis of the local potential contamination and vulnerability of the aquifer. Methods: We created a map of the entire Lecce province, interpolating it with a grid that led to the subdivision of the study area in 32 quadrangular blocks measuring 10 km × 10 km. Based on current hydrogeological knowledge and institutional data, we used GIS techniques to represent on these 32 blocks the 12 different layers corresponding to the main anthropic or environmental type of pressures potentially impacting on the aquifer. To each kind of pressure, a score from 0 to 1 was attributed on the basis of the potential impact on groundwater. A total score was assigned to each of the 32 blocks. A higher number of wells was selected to be monitored in those blocks presenting higher risk scores for possible groundwater contamination due to anthropic/environmental pressures. Results: The range of total scores varied from 2.4 to 42.5. On the basis of total scores, the 10 km × 10 km blocks were divided into four classes of environmental pressure (1st class: from 0,1 to 10,00; 2nd class: from 10,01 to 20,00; 3rd class: from 20,1 to 30,00; 4th class: from 30,01 to 42,50). There were 11 areas in the 1st class, 9 areas in the 2nd class, 8 areas in the 3rd class and 4 areas in the 4th class. We assigned 1 monitoring well in 1st class areas, 2 monitoring wells in 2nd class areas, 3 monitoring wells in 3rd class areas and 4 monitoring wells in 4th class areas. Conclusion: The methodology developed under the M.I.N.O.Re. project could represent a useful model to be used in other areas to assess the environmental pressures suffered by aquifers and the quality of the groundwater. Full article