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Keywords = rainwater usage

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22 pages, 11174 KiB  
Article
Nomogram-Based Rainwater Harvesting Design for a Sustainable Residential Water Supply
by Roberto Magini, Maria Valenti Ben Moussa and Davide Luciano De Luca
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5801; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135801 - 24 Jun 2025
Viewed by 326
Abstract
Water scarcity is a critical issue exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and population growth, particularly in regions with insufficient water infrastructure. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems offer a sustainable solution to mitigate water shortages by collecting and storing rainwater for non-potable uses. This study [...] Read more.
Water scarcity is a critical issue exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and population growth, particularly in regions with insufficient water infrastructure. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems offer a sustainable solution to mitigate water shortages by collecting and storing rainwater for non-potable uses. This study focuses on the design, efficiency, and reliability of RWH systems in residential environments, with an emphasis on optimizing the sizing of storage volumes and collection areas. Using a behavioural simulation model, we generate nomograms that facilitate the design of RWH systems by analyzing the interactions among storage capacity, collection area, rainfall patterns, and water demand. Specifically, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of RWH systems through efficiency and reliability metrics such as water savings, mains reliance, overflow discharge, and system reliability. The proposed procedure integrates stochastic rainfall and water demand data, including a detailed analysis of toilet usage, in order to simulate the performance of RWH systems across different time scales. Case studies in Italy and Denmark are used to assess the influence of climatic differences on system performance. The findings provide a comprehensive methodology for RWH system design, and offer valuable insights into improving a sustainable water management strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Water Management)
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25 pages, 2839 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Variability of Soil Water Repellency in Urban Parks of Berlin
by Ehsan Razipoor, Subham Mukherjee and Brigitta Schütt
Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020031 - 2 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 781
Abstract
Urban green spaces are important components of city spaces that are vulnerable to degradation in soil–water–climate processes. This vulnerability is exacerbated by current climate change and park usage density. This study examines the dynamics of soil water repellency in the topsoils of selected [...] Read more.
Urban green spaces are important components of city spaces that are vulnerable to degradation in soil–water–climate processes. This vulnerability is exacerbated by current climate change and park usage density. This study examines the dynamics of soil water repellency in the topsoils of selected urban parks in Berlin, aiming to assess the relationships between weather conditions, soil water content, and soil water repellency. This study is based on monthly sampled soils from spots originating from three selected parks—Fischtal Park, Stadtpark Steglitz, and Rudolph-Wilde Park—between September 2022 and October 2023; two of the parks are exclusively rainwater fed, and one is irrigated during summer months. For each sample soil, water repellency persistence and severity were analyzed. Time series analysis was conducted including soil water content. In addition, the total organic carbon content (TOC) and sample texture were analyzed. The results show that the rainfall amount, number of dry days, and maximum temperature during different time intervals prior to the sampling date predominantly control the variation in the soil water repellency via the soil water content. Soil water repellency variations observed appear more event-related than monthly or seasonal, as rainfall is evenly distributed through the years without a distinct dry or wet season in Berlin. The non-repellency of the soil samples was usually observed when the associated water content was increased, which is linked to high cumulative rainfall and short dry periods. Low rainfall amounts and long dry periods in summer result in the re-establishment of the soil water repellency, possibly affecting increased runoff generation and soil erosion risk. Spatially, the repellency properties were observed at locations under healthy vegetation cover, while soils located on the upper slope locations and on the pathways lacked repellency characteristics. Full article
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25 pages, 903 KiB  
Review
Biological Properties and Phytochemicals of Multipurpose Tree Plant Hagenia abyssinica
by Varun Jaiswal and Hae-Jeung Lee
Molecules 2024, 29(24), 5871; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29245871 (registering DOI) - 12 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1369
Abstract
Hagenia abyssinica (HA) is a monotypic tree species used as traditional medicine against various diseases and conditions in African countries. HA is also a multipurpose plant used for furniture, fuel wood, soil fertility management, and rainwater conservation, along with medicinal usage. In different [...] Read more.
Hagenia abyssinica (HA) is a monotypic tree species used as traditional medicine against various diseases and conditions in African countries. HA is also a multipurpose plant used for furniture, fuel wood, soil fertility management, and rainwater conservation, along with medicinal usage. In different in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, and human studies, the potential of HA for different pharmacological properties, including anti-parasite, antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, anticancer, anti-diabetes, antidiarrheal, wound healing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities were observed. Antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties of HA may be the primary reason for the multi-pharmacological activities of HA. Initial toxicity studies and the presence of various phytochemicals, especially flavonoids, also support the therapeutic potential of HA. The diverse medicinal properties of the plant have different challenges to overcome for its development. Limited studies to decipher the molecular mechanism behind the pharmacological activity restrict the utilization of the complete potential of HA as therapeutics. Still, the compilation of phytochemical, pharmacological activities, and target pathways of HA is missing in the literature. The current review not only compiles the pharmacological activities and phytochemicals but also highlights the gaps and proposes the future direction to develop HA as a candidate against important diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Traditional Medicinal Plants, 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 4094 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Water Service Levels and User Satisfaction for Domestic Water Use in Emina-Boadi-Kumasi to Achieve the Sustainable Development of Urban Water Supply Systems in Ghana
by Emmanuel Padmore Mantey, Rameshwar S. Kanwar and Eugene Appiah-Effah
Water 2024, 16(22), 3193; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16223193 - 7 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2672
Abstract
Access to reliable water supply is critical for sustainable development and public health, yet many peri-urban and rural communities in the developing world face challenges such as poor maintenance, faulty infrastructure, and inadequate governance of water services, hindering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals [...] Read more.
Access to reliable water supply is critical for sustainable development and public health, yet many peri-urban and rural communities in the developing world face challenges such as poor maintenance, faulty infrastructure, and inadequate governance of water services, hindering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In Emina-Boadi, a small town in Kumasi, Ghana, residents increasingly rely on boreholes due to substandard service from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). This shift highlights concerns about water reliability, quality, and affordability, impacting public health and hindering progress toward SDG 6. This case study assesses water service levels using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as quantity, quality, affordability, accessibility, and reliability, focusing on sources like boreholes, hand pumps, piped water, hand-dug wells, rainwater, and surface waters. The study aims to delineate the roles of different water providers, understand community dynamics, and evaluate contributions to rural development and SDG 6 through stakeholder interviews and questionnaires. By leveraging the WASHCost framework, which aims to improve planning methods and the provision of water and sanitation services by addressing the lack of cost information in rural and peri-urban areas, and the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) framework, which monitors progress toward global targets related to water, sanitation, and hygiene, the study categorizes indicators and draws connections among them. The findings reveal a significant preference for borehole services, with 87% usage and an 83% reliability rate compared to 13% for GWCL. Daily water consumption averages 60.75 L per person, with on-premises access improving water collection efficiency to 7 min. Dissatisfaction with GWCL services highlights the need for improved delivery aligned with community needs and SDG targets. Adopting sustainable management practices, enhancing infrastructure, and improving governance are crucial for ensuring safe and affordable water access for all residents of Emina-Boadi and similar communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance)
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13 pages, 419 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Adoption and Impact of Climate-Smart Water Management Technologies in Smallholder Farming Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review
by Welcome Ntokozo Sifisosami Zondo, Jorine Tafadzwa Ndoro and Victor Mlambo
Water 2024, 16(19), 2787; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192787 - 1 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3202
Abstract
Agriculture plays a significant role in global water consumption, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater usage. This makes this sector a critical factor in the depletion of water resources. Accordingly, this paper explores potential mitigatory impacts of climate-smart water management (CSWM) [...] Read more.
Agriculture plays a significant role in global water consumption, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater usage. This makes this sector a critical factor in the depletion of water resources. Accordingly, this paper explores potential mitigatory impacts of climate-smart water management (CSWM) technologies in sub-Saharan Africa. About 70% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is dependent on agriculture for sustaining their livelihoods. This is despite the low agricultural output in smallholder farming systems (SFS) due to water scarcity. This has spurred several attempts to promote the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) to raise agricultural outputs and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. However, there has not been a comprehensive analysis of data categorised by various aspects of climate-smart water management technologies. In this systematic literature review, climate-smart water management technologies in sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural sector were identified and analysed to determine strategies that could enhance their adoption and impact. To this end, academic articles reporting on the adoption of climate-smart water management technologies in databases were reviewed. Four significant literature databases were used. These were limited to Springer Link, ScienceDirect, MDPI, Wiley Online, and Google Scholar. The findings demonstrate that rainwater harvesting and micro-irrigation are the primary climate-smart water management technologies used by smallholder farmers. The literature review shows that adoption of CSWM practices is constrained by inadequate technological infrastructure, financial implications, unsuitable policies, and low user skills, particularly. It is therefore recommended that government agricultural departments and relevant advocates of CSA should incentivise and subsidise smallholder farmers to encourage CSWM technology adoption. This can be achieved through the implementation of suitable policies directed at technological infrastructure development, financial support for adoption, and technical skills training. Full article
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14 pages, 878 KiB  
Article
Towards Sustainable Water Use in Two University Student Residences: A Case Study
by Ana M. Antão-Geraldes, Gabriel Ohara, Maria João Afonso, Antonio Albuquerque and Flora Silva
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7559; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177559 - 27 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
This research is focused on the water usage patterns in two student residences—one for male students (Residence I) and the other for female students (Residence II). Surveys and measurements of flushing cisterns, taps, and shower flows were conducted to understand water use behaviors. [...] Read more.
This research is focused on the water usage patterns in two student residences—one for male students (Residence I) and the other for female students (Residence II). Surveys and measurements of flushing cisterns, taps, and shower flows were conducted to understand water use behaviors. Scenario 1 proposed replacing washbasin and kitchen taps and installing flow reducers in showers, while Scenario 2 combined Scenario 1 with a rainwater harvesting system for recharging flush cisterns. Showers were found to be the most water-consuming devices, accounting for 46% and 61.41% of water consumption in Residences I and II, respectively, followed by kitchen taps (31.51% in Residence I and 11.52% in Residence II). The flushing cistern consumption was 7.02% in Residence I and 13.22% in Residence II. The implementation of Scenario 1 anticipates a 13% reduction in total water consumption in Residence I and a 10% reduction in Residence II. The reduction in hot water consumption would result in a decrease in annual electricity consumption by 27.8% and 23.06% in Residence I and II, respectively. With the implementation of Scenario 2, the total potential water savings for Residence I could increase to 19.98%, and for Residence II, it could rise to 23.17%. The proposed measures aim to enhance water sustainability in these buildings and can be replicated elsewhere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sciences)
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22 pages, 4255 KiB  
Article
Water Savings in Places of Worship: A Case Study for St Mary’s Mosque in Australia
by Mohammad Abu Hurayra, Ali Ahmed, Mohammad A. Alim and Ataur Rahman
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6568; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156568 - 31 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1868
Abstract
Water is used for various religious purposes, including ablution for billions of Muslims around the world. Water savings in ablution can make a positive contribution towards achieving the water-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). A survey-based study was conducted at St Mary’s Mosque in [...] Read more.
Water is used for various religious purposes, including ablution for billions of Muslims around the world. Water savings in ablution can make a positive contribution towards achieving the water-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). A survey-based study was conducted at St Mary’s Mosque in Sydney, Australia, to understand the water usage during ablution and how water can be saved by Muslims in mosques. It has been found that the participants of the survey use 4 to 8 L of water to perform one ablution. About 82% of the participants are careful about saving water in ablution. It has also been found that about 70% of the participants believe that wastage of water during ablution is ‘haram’ (unlawful). Some 95% of the participants believe that religious motivation can play a significant role in saving water during ablution, and Imams can make a notable positive difference by encouraging their followers to save water during ablution. It has also been found that 64% of the participants are willing to use harvested rainwater for ablution. The findings of this study will help Muslims in Australia and around the globe to save water and contribute to the circular economy, as saving potable water (by reducing water use during ablution and using harvested rainwater at the source of water collection) saves energy and encourages responsible consumption. Full article
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21 pages, 2685 KiB  
Article
Principles and Optimization of China’s Unconventional Water Management: From a Brand-New Perspective of Responsibility Allocation
by Ruifang Wang, Yingwen Ji and Chen Feng
Water 2024, 16(14), 2063; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142063 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1446
Abstract
Unconventional water includes reclaimed water, harvested rainwater, desalinated seawater, and mine water. Unconventional water use is considered more of a “mandatory responsibility” in China. The initial allocation of unconventional water emphasizes quantity-centered responsibility allocation while the minimum utilization reflects this responsibility. The unconventional [...] Read more.
Unconventional water includes reclaimed water, harvested rainwater, desalinated seawater, and mine water. Unconventional water use is considered more of a “mandatory responsibility” in China. The initial allocation of unconventional water emphasizes quantity-centered responsibility allocation while the minimum utilization reflects this responsibility. The unconventional water use responsibility (UWUR) should be tailored to the characteristics of each area, moving away from a ‘more is better’ mindset. However, there is a large research gap in this field. This paper first presented six fundamental principles for unconventional water allocation. Ensuring fairness in allocation involves aligning the allocated amount with urban water usage characteristics. Hence, based on four key features, this paper integrated various socioeconomic and environmental factors to build an initial allocation model. To enhance efficiency, an optimal allocation model was constructed using the zero-sum gains–data envelopment analysis (ZSG-DEA) method. The models were then applied to Jiangsu Province, China, to verify their applicability. The results showed that the projected minimum UWUR allocation (unit: 100 million m3) for each city in 2025 is 1.482 (Nanjing), 1.501 (Wuxi), 0.919 (Xuzhou), 1.029 (Changzhou), 2.977 (Suzhou), 1.497 (Nantong), 0.818 (Lianyungang), 0.766 (Huai’an), 0.875 (Yancheng), 0.920 (Yangzhou), 0.790 (Zhenjiang), 0.858 (Taizhou), and 0.766 (Suqian). The rational and feasible results indicated that the allocation framework proposed in this paper has a certain practicability. Lastly, this paper considered the differences in unconventional water utilization conditions across 13 cities and proposed corresponding measures to improve the utilization. This paper represents a tentative exploration of unconventional water allocation in China and offers theoretical and practical insights for policy-makers to improve territorial spatial planning and sustainable water management. Full article
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15 pages, 5760 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Stormwater Harvesting Potential: The Case Study of South Korea
by Amjad Khan, Yoonkyung Park, Jongpyo Park, Inkyeong Sim and Reeho Kim
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3812; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093812 - 1 May 2024
Viewed by 2274
Abstract
Stormwater harvesting (SWH) is emerging as a vital adaptive strategy for urban climate resilience. In South Korea, different types of storage facilities have been constructed under different regulations and laws. Each type of storage facility has its own original purpose of construction. Although [...] Read more.
Stormwater harvesting (SWH) is emerging as a vital adaptive strategy for urban climate resilience. In South Korea, different types of storage facilities have been constructed under different regulations and laws. Each type of storage facility has its own original purpose of construction. Although these facilities have better outcomes, we aim to investigate the potential use of these facilities as additional water resources. In this study, we assess the stormwater harvesting (SWH) potential of different types of already-constructed storage facilities. Five different types of storage facilities and three different cases are considered in the present study. Case 1 excludes SWH volume during the flood and winter seasons, while in Case 2, only winter season SWH volume is excluded. In Case 3, the winter season and combined sewer overflows (CSOs) facilities are excluded. The Rainwater Utilization Facility is considered as a baseline for comparison in the present study. The results show that, in Case 2, the Sewage Storage Facility, Stormwater Runoff Reduction Facility, Nonpoint Pollution Reduction Facility, and Buffer Storage Facility has 53.5, 4, 2.4, and 1.2 times more stormwater average annual usage potential, respectively. The findings suggest that these facilities can be utilized as additional water resources. It should be mentioned that the primary objective for which each facility was constructed will remain unaffected. Nevertheless, forthcoming research should focus on a detailed exploration of the quality of the collected stormwater and the energy required to supply the stormwater for the end usage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Water Management)
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17 pages, 3759 KiB  
Article
Integrated Exploitation of Rainwater and Groundwater: A Strategy for Water Self-Sufficiency in Ca Mau Province of the Mekong Delta
by Dang Hoa Vinh, Dung Duc Tran, Dao Dinh Cham, Phan Thi Thanh Hang, Duong Ba Man, Danh Mon, Luu Hai Tung, Le Van Kiem, Thien Duc Nguyen and Duong Thi Ngoc Tuyen
Hydrology 2024, 11(4), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11040055 - 12 Apr 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3501
Abstract
Groundwater sources have been exploited excessively for numerous purposes worldwide, leading to increasingly severe depletion. However, the replenishment of groundwater sources has not usually been a focus in economically and socially underdeveloped countries and regions. In coastal provinces of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta [...] Read more.
Groundwater sources have been exploited excessively for numerous purposes worldwide, leading to increasingly severe depletion. However, the replenishment of groundwater sources has not usually been a focus in economically and socially underdeveloped countries and regions. In coastal provinces of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), rural areas are facing difficulties in accessing fresh water due to shortages from the water supply plant and excessive use of groundwater, highlighting an urgent need for sustainable development solutions. Our study first conducted interviews with 200 households in Ca Mau Province of the VMD to identify the current situation and the challenges and obstacles of rainwater harvesting and to find sustainable and proactive solutions. We then analyzed daily rainfall data from 10 meteorological stations to construct four scenarios of the water balance method: (i) potential rainwater harvesting based on existing roof area; (ii) optimal scale of storage tank and catchments for different levels of water usage; (iii) tank scale utilizing rainwater entirely during the rainy season and basic needs during the dry season; and (iv) integrated water supply between rain and groundwater. The results showed that using rainwater entirely for domestic water supply requires large storage tank capacities, making these scenarios difficult to achieve in the near future. Our research introduces a novel integrated water supply approach to storing rain and groundwater that has demonstrated high effectiveness and sustainability. With existing tank capacities (0.8 m3 per person), rainwater could only meet over 48% (14 m3 per year) of the water demand while requiring 14.8 m3 of additional groundwater extraction. With a tank capacity of 2.4 m3 per person, ensuring rainwater harvesting meets basic demand, harvested rainwater could satisfy 64% of the demand, with artificial groundwater supplementation exceeding 1.79 times the required extraction, while excess rainwater discharge into the environment would be minimal. Our research results not only provide potential solutions for rainwater and groundwater collection to supplement sustainable domestic water sources for Ca Mau but also serve as an example for similar regions globally. Full article
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19 pages, 4023 KiB  
Article
The Impact of the Water Tariff on the Economic Feasibility of Rainwater Harvesting for Use in Residential Buildings
by Aline Eloize Borgert and Enedir Ghisi
Water 2024, 16(7), 1058; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16071058 - 6 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1713
Abstract
This study aims to analyse the technical viability and economic feasibility of rainwater-harvesting systems for single- and multifamily residential buildings in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. Simulations were conducted for representative buildings in the city under different water-usage scenarios and system designs, in [...] Read more.
This study aims to analyse the technical viability and economic feasibility of rainwater-harvesting systems for single- and multifamily residential buildings in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. Simulations were conducted for representative buildings in the city under different water-usage scenarios and system designs, in a total of 36 simulation scenarios. An economic analysis was performed for four scenarios over a twenty-year period. Both initial and operational costs were considered, and the net present value, internal rate of return, and payback were used as feasibility indicators. For houses, between 60.1% and 74.8% of the cases were economically feasible, achieving a discounted payback period ranging from 6.2 to 8.6 years. For flats, between 57.8% and 64.2% of the cases were economically feasible, achieving a discounted payback period ranging from 4.8 to 5.6 years. As the water tariff in the city underwent changes recently, the former and current tariff formats were compared. The current tariff format provides more economic benefits for saving potable water, and leads to a higher net present value and a shorter discounted payback period. This research stands out from previous studies as it examines a new scenario in the use of rainwater-harvesting systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rainwater Harvesting and Treatment)
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18 pages, 4949 KiB  
Article
Combining Multi-View UAV Photogrammetry, Thermal Imaging, and Computer Vision Can Derive Cost-Effective Ecological Indicators for Habitat Assessment
by Qiao Hu, Ligang Zhang, Jeff Drahota, Wayne Woldt, Dana Varner, Andy Bishop, Ted LaGrange, Christopher M. U. Neale and Zhenghong Tang
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(6), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16061081 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2457
Abstract
Recent developments in Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs), thermal imaging, and Auto-machine learning (AutoML) have shown high potential for precise wildlife surveys but have rarely been studied for habitat assessment. Here, we propose a framework that leverages these advanced techniques to achieve cost-effective habitat [...] Read more.
Recent developments in Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs), thermal imaging, and Auto-machine learning (AutoML) have shown high potential for precise wildlife surveys but have rarely been studied for habitat assessment. Here, we propose a framework that leverages these advanced techniques to achieve cost-effective habitat quality assessment from the perspective of actual wildlife community usage. The framework exploits vision intelligence hidden in the UAV thermal images and AutoML methods to achieve cost-effective wildlife distribution mapping, and then derives wildlife use indicators to imply habitat quality variance. We conducted UAV-based thermal wildlife surveys at three wetlands in the Rainwater Basin, Nebraska. Experiments were set to examine the optimal protocols, including various flight designs (61 and 122 m), feature types, and AutoML. The results showed that UAV images collected at 61 m with a spatial resolution of 7.5 cm, combined with Faster R-CNN, returned the optimal wildlife mapping (more than 90% accuracy). Results also indicated that the vision intelligence exploited can effectively transfer the redundant AutoML adaptation cycles into a fully automatic process (with around 33 times efficiency improvement for data labeling), facilitating cost-effective AutoML adaptation. Eventually, the derived ecological indicators can explain the wildlife use status well, reflecting potential within- and between-habitat quality variance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensing Image Processing)
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18 pages, 3618 KiB  
Article
A Digital Integrated Methodology for Semi-Automated Analysis of Water Efficiency in Buildings
by Pedro Cortez-Lara and Benjamin Sanchez
Buildings 2023, 13(12), 2911; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13122911 - 22 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1713
Abstract
Recent developments in the field of digital technologies in construction have led to a renewed interest in the use of building information modeling (BIM) for water efficiency analysis (WEA). BIM has emerged as a powerful platform for performance analysis towards sustainable design. However, [...] Read more.
Recent developments in the field of digital technologies in construction have led to a renewed interest in the use of building information modeling (BIM) for water efficiency analysis (WEA). BIM has emerged as a powerful platform for performance analysis towards sustainable design. However, there is little available in the literature on WEA using BIM. Extensive research has shown that WEA in buildings focuses on rating systems, 3D modeling, clash detection, and rainwater harvesting analysis. This paper presents a digital integrated methodology with in-depth analysis of three domains: (1) analysis of water usage according to plumbing fixtures and inhabitant demand per day, (2) sizing analysis of hydraulic-plumbing systems using the flowrate calculation method, and (3) analysis of alternative systems using harvested rainwater and treated water. The proposed methodology was applied to a multi-family building in Nuevo León, Mexico. The authors conclude that this methodology can easily be implemented in the short term, and that it may provide a significant improvement in WEA. Full article
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21 pages, 1509 KiB  
Article
Rainwater Quality Analysis for Its Potential Recovery: A Case Study on Its Usage for Swimming Pools in Poland
by Anna Lempart-Rapacewicz, Julia Zakharova and Edyta Kudlek
Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15037; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015037 - 19 Oct 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2256
Abstract
This paper describes the possibility of using rainwater for filling artificial swimming pools in Poland. The overall purpose of this study is to understand whether the quality of rainwater collected from roofs would be suitable for use in the swimming pools without any [...] Read more.
This paper describes the possibility of using rainwater for filling artificial swimming pools in Poland. The overall purpose of this study is to understand whether the quality of rainwater collected from roofs would be suitable for use in the swimming pools without any additional treatment. The rainwater samples were collected from five areas in the Silesian region and analysed for a number of physico-chemical parameters. The results show that the content of nitrates met Polish standards, whereas the standards set for pH and turbidity would only be met after the water had undergone the treatment process which takes place in every swimming pool installation. The paper further compares rainwater data from this study with the corresponding data for drinking water and groundwater. It shows that the content of ammonia, some metals (Ni, Cr and Mn) and a semimetal are in line with the parameters used for drinking water and are a lot lower compared to those set for groundwater. However, the results indicated some possible consequences which might be harmful for swimming pool users. These include the adverse effects of zinc and other organic micropollutants which are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These may form dangerous byproducts in the presence of the chlorine, the use of which is required by the standards to be applied for swimming pool disinfection purposes. Full article
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18 pages, 9151 KiB  
Article
Experimental Testing and Residual Performance Evaluation of Existing Hangers with Steel Pipe Protection Taken from an In-Service Tied-Arch Bridge
by Liming Zhu, Tailei Chen, Lingkun Chen, Zhichao Lu, Xiaolun Hu and Xiaoming Huang
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 11070; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131911070 - 8 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1621
Abstract
Background: Tied-arch bridges’ hangers are crucial load-bearing parts, and their excellent condition directly influences bridge safety. However, assessing in-service hangers’ continuing functional performance is irrelevant and incomplete, particularly for unique hangers covered by outer steel tubes. Objective: This research uses a case study [...] Read more.
Background: Tied-arch bridges’ hangers are crucial load-bearing parts, and their excellent condition directly influences bridge safety. However, assessing in-service hangers’ continuing functional performance is irrelevant and incomplete, particularly for unique hangers covered by outer steel tubes. Objective: This research uses a case study of an under-bearing tied-arch bridge with substantial hanger damage to determine the origin of the damage and analyze the hanger’s remaining operational ability. Methodology/approach: This study presents a set of assessment methodologies and procedures for in-service hangers’ remaining functioning performance using field inspection and indoor tests. First, an appearance inspection of the full bridge hanger’s upper and lower anchor heads was carried out, and the categories of anchor head damage and distribution rules are summarized. The causes of major water damage and the lower anchor head’s water infiltration channel were explored. Then, a full interior test was performed on the disassembled sick hanger to establish its present mechanical qualities. Finally, field inspection and indoor test findings assessed the bridge hanger’s operational performance. The findings suggest that the anchor box drainage prevention system should be improved to prevent rainfall and condensation from pooling in the lower anchor box and causing anticorrosive grease failure and anchor head corrosion. Results: The hanger’s mechanical qualities have deteriorated and no longer meet usage standards. Most of the water accumulated in the anchor head of the conventional construction hanger enters from the bridge deck or rope surface, but because of the outer steel pipe, rainwater can flow into the lower anchor box through the upper anchor box along the gap between the hanger and the outer steel pipe, so the waterproof system of the upper anchor box should be checked. Conclusions: This research may be used for safety evaluation and maintenance of the same hanger in service. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Bridge Design and Structural Performance)
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