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Over the last decade, due to the rapid increase in energy consumption, sustainability has become an increasingly important concern among developers and software and hardware users. The digital era brings about a fast and continuous production of information, whose management becomes a challenge for both large companies and users worldwide, in their private environment. The huge amount of data needed to carry out day-to-day operations means a continuing need for increased storage space, which translates into high h...

The purpose of this work consists in analyses of declustering catalogue and seismic sequence recorded in Vrancea crustal area . The moderate-size earthquake with local magnitude 5,7 which occurred on November 22, 2014 in Vrancea region, at 41 km depth, is the largest crustal event instrumentally recorded at the bending of the Eastern Carpathians. The crust seismicity in front of the Carpathian Arc spreads to the East, in a strip delimited by the Peceneaga-Camena fault, to the North and East, and to the South is lo...

The inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is recognized as a robust method for the determination of different elements in liquid and solid samples. However, for metals determinations from solid samples, digestion is required in order to dissolve the analytes into liquid solution. It was the aim of this paper to validate the ICP-OES method for determination of metals from zeolite samples after acid digestion. The suitability of three digestion procedures using wet digestion with mineral...

Vegetation takes an active part in the processes of migration and transformation of chemical compounds on the earth's surface. The intensity of biogenic migration of chemical elements is determined mainly by the chemical composition of plants. Different availability of soil chemical elements and causes their different accumulation in agricultural plants. The widespread use of fertilizers, pesticides, active development of industry in the study region - all these factors can be attributed to the Rostov region at ri...

The article presents the use of the volcanic exhalations of Larderello geothermal field (Italy, southern Tuscany, Pisa province) for the construction of a large-scale heating system using geothermal heat of the Earth and make them available to visitors in the form of geotourist attractions (?Parco Geotermico Delle Biancane? with geotourist routes, e.g. ?La Fumarole?). The history of the use of inexhaustible energy resources contained in the interior of the Earth dates back to 1850, when in Larderello a heating pla...

The aim of the study was to determine the Cu and Pb content in soil profiles in relation to main responsible factors in vertical distribution: type of soil, pH and mineralogical composition. Were exanimate 34 soil profiles from the industrial area of Craiova City. For each profile was collected bulk samples at different depths (40, 100, 150, 200 and 300 cm). The analytical techniques employed for the investigation of soil and rock samples were Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) for determination of heavy metals ...

The cause of the explosion is the thermal energy delivered by the flammable/ fuel ignition source. The action of the ignition source on the flammable medium can be direct or indirect. The most common of the direct sources of ignition are open flames and electric and mechanical sparks. These sources release their energy into the environment, which, if it contains flammable substances in appropriate proportions, is initiated. This is followed by a chain of fuel oxidation reactions and by the propagation of a flame f...

Despite preventive measures, it is not possible to fully eliminate natural disasters, damages and other undesired events. These may have such negative impacts that might turn into a crisis situation. Provided the crisis situation occurs, it is necessary to have an effective system and tools of crisis management. The activity of crisis management represents the solution to the crisis situation using specific principles, procedures and methods aiming at overcoming or minimizing the negative impacts and renewing part...

Water in general and especially drinking water, is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity in the Central Europe region due to the climate change. For a human, water is a bare necessity of life. The necessary amount of water to maintain human life is several litres a day. However, in a modern way of life, daily water consumption is usually over 100 litres. This amount accounts only for the personal consumption. To ensure the operation of national economy, consumption must be much higher. There are two ways how t...

Nowadays, due to environmental pollution, finding and using alternative sources of energy is a priority for any economy. For this purpose, scholars from all over the world are focusing on finding the best alternative sources of energy. One example is the wave energy. This natural source is characterized by being renewable, inexhaustible, not polluting, thus is not contributing to global warming by generating emissions. Yet such a resource is extremely variable. The aim of this paper is to analyze the Black Sea wav...

In paper, we present the development results of web-based tools for natural risk management during the implementation of large projects within environmental economics. If the projects are implemented in the Arctic and subarctic regions, the composition of natural risks must take into account climate change. While research, we used Foresight technologies, risk management approach, theory of decision making under uncertainties, web-technologies of data bases constructing. Within geoinformation management paradigm, w...

In the current context, characterized by the alarming increase in pollution caused by energy production from fossil fuels it is becoming increasingly important to reduce this dependence. Wind energy can be a very good solution to global energy problems. Romania's wind potential is considered one of the largest in Europe, the Dobrogea region having the largest wind potential in Romania. The objective of this paper is to draw an image of the near future projection of the wind potential in this region. The problem of...

Currently, the population of the Earth, reaching a value of 7.2 billion people (2014), continues to grow rapidly. This leads to an increase in the demand for food, energy, minerals, which in turn enhances the anthropogenic impact on the biosphere, at the same time increases production and consumption waste and worsens the ecological situation. The problems of urbanization should be attributed to the most acute technospheric problems - increasing the role of cities in the development of society, as well as the grow...

Levulinic acid (LA) is a substance, which can be obtained from cellulosic biomass via acid hydrolysis. Hydrogenation of LA to gamma-valerolactone (GVL) is one of the most promising reactions in the field of biomass valorization to fine chemicals and liquid transportation fuels. Potentially, GVL obtained from lignocellulosic biomass is a versatile intermediate for the production of fuel additives and chemicals. Due to the high demand for GVL, its efficient production is currently a topic of intensive research. This...

The high number of freshwaters and wetlands is a characteristic feature of arctic and subarctic landscapes in the northern Russia. Arctic freshwater ecosystems are especially susceptible to the negative consequences of global environmental change drivers. We studied zooplankton communities of 14 small tundra lakes in the Pechora River delta (in the northeast of European Russia). The composition, structure of zooplankton, and ecological stage of lakes were analyzed. A total of 107 zooplankton taxa were identified. ...

Mining, due to its intensive economic operation, is primarily associated with negative impact on natural environment and destruction of natural assets, and that regardless of the method of raw materials extraction. So, the great challenge now is to restore natural balance to areas affected by the consequences of this operation. Literature on the subject features a lot of publications on recultivation, understood as reintroduction of forests, meadows, arable land and water courses into degraded former mining areas ...

Heavy crude oils are extracted mostly by thermal recovery methods which reduce viscosity of heavy oil due to destruction of associative bonds in a complex oil fluid. In a number of articles, it is proved that at a temperature of more than 200-250В° C there is also a certain chemical transformation of hydrocarbons, primarily containing hetero-elements. The use of finely-dispersed catalysts, injected directly into the oil-bearing formation, allows to intensify the processes of destructive hydrogenation of asphaltene...

The company "Skripinsky Quarry", LLC is mining the carbonate rock deposit. Planning the advanced processing of raw materials, the company is doing a lot of work to develop new types of products. The integrated approach to the territory development became the key for the enterprise developing the promising industrial projects. The competition of project proposals for the best use of Skripinsky quarry crushed stone screenings was organized together with D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. The w...

The proposed paper presents the situation of the Aranca hydroameliorative arrangement located in the western part of Romania. The Aranca hydroameliorative arrangement was realized in 1965 and the completion of the land improvement works in this arrangement were realized between the years 1974-1977. Since the execution, a series of rehabilitation works have been carried out due to changes in agricultural practices in the area affected by climate change. This research assesses the state of the art as well as its fun...

The proposed paper presents the situation of the Teba-Timisat hydroameliorative arrangement located in the western part of Romania. Teba-Timisat hydroameliorative arrangement was realized in 1962 and the completion of the land improvement works in this arrangement was executed between 1985 and 1987. Since the execution, a series of rehabilitation works have been carried out, due to changes in agricultural practices in the area affected by climate change. This research assesses the state of the art as well as its f...

The article analyzes how the main factors influence the competitiveness of the economy. In constructing the model, three assumptions are introduced: a) there is a prehistory of the process, i.e. the variables that evaluate the competitiveness of the economy at the time t, also affect the values of previous periods; b) there is a mutual influence (interdependence) between the variables that evaluate the competitiveness of the economy; c) the variables that evaluate the competitiveness of the economy are influenced ...

Acid Orange 7 was heterophotolyzed using titanium dioxide, oxygen bubbling, back-flow tubular reactor, polychromatic radiation of high pressure Hg lamp and aqueous sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid as solvents. Dependences of reaction rates on Acid Orange 7 concentrations have exhibited either straight-line (for lower initial concentrations) or a convex shape (for higher initial concentrations). Variations in shapes of kinetic curves observed were explained by the effect of decrease in both (i)...

Due to economic and social benefits it provides, transport is a key sector on which development is based. However, adverse effects of transport in terms of the environment, economy, and society ought to be minimised. The European Commission has developed standard indicators to evaluate negative effects of transport and its sustainable development in Union countries. This paper presents these indicators and provides their synthetic analysis. The indicators reveal that several countries (e.g. the Netherlands) develo...

The main idea of this paper is to develop a multi-agent system, integrating advanced control algorithms and acting scenarios, for optimizing energy management in an intelligent microgrid. In order to achieve this objective, it is proposed a flexible intelligent tool based on multi-agents, able to give alternatives for action to prosumers, through a specialized interface. In this respect, firstly are presented aspects related to the multi- agents (MAS) integration in smart grids? control. In the second part the wor...

One tenth of the European population lives in distressed areas where physical and economic plight is aggravated by social problems. In urban renewal, two emerging problems require attention: a) the inclusion of the local communities in making choices for land administration; b) the complex nature of the interventions due to the multiplicity, diversity and conflict of the elements involved. With the aim of providing an evaluation procedure able to aid public choice, to involve the community and to reach a shared ch...

Numerical modeling of vortex induced motions appears to be one of primary objectives of offshore constructions design. The flow around structure elements with certain elongated geometry shape as pipes, risers, mooring lines, oil rig legs etc., causes vortex induction, which in turn could lead to negative side effects such as cross motion or even to structural damage. The vibration process modeling in advance could allow the structures design and production without extra margins of safety and therefore the final pr...

Unglazed transpired solar collectors (UTC) are simple and effective devices for applications such air heating, induced ventilation, crop drying etc. A numerical model for typical unglazed transpired collector is proposed with blackened plate exposed to the sun and circular holes on square pitch arrangement in no wind working conditions. The steady-state conservation of mass equation, momentum and energy equations were considered in order compute the air pressure and velocities, flow pattern and the total air heati...

The article presents the importance of abandoned quarries for the mosaic landscape structure. Five objects {and} their surroundings in a 100-m zone located in the Polish Western Carpathians were analysed in terms of plant communities, flora, physical and chemical parameters of soils, and diversity of relief. The objects, which were originally used for excavation of marls, were characterised by the largest differences in soil parameters between the quarry and the surroundings. Xerothermic vegetation was noted to ha...

This work devoted to study in situ combustion processes of different crude oil. The crude oils from different field of Russian Federation were selected. Oxidation process in reservoir conditions (50 bar and 50 В°C) were studied for all crude oils. The combustion study was investigated by accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). This method is most suitable for studying the processes of oil oxidation in reservoir conditions. Arrhenius kinetic parameters were determined for crude oils. The correlations between API gravi...

This work devoted to study in situ combustion processes of crude oil at different pressures. The crude oils from Russian Federation were selected field. Oxidation process in reservoir conditions (50.7, 83.8, 101.2, 125.5 bars and 50 В°C) was studied for crude oil. The combustion study was investigated by accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). Arrhenius kinetic parameters were determined for crude oils. The correlation between reaction duration and initial pressure was found.

The development of methods for automatic preprocessing of observational data of small-aperture seismic arrays that precede the detection and identification of seismic events by the method of waveform cross-correlation is considered. Preprocessing is based on adaptive channel selection. The methods developed by us provide for the calculation of the quality metrics of the seismic channel by means of spectral and amplitude analysis of records. The selection of channels is based on the correspondence of the quality of...

Energy efficiency of buildings is one of the directions for implementing a sustainable community development program. The purpose of this paper is to present a calculation algorithm for the transfer of thermal energy between buildings. In stationery regime, this problem is reduced to solving Laplace's accomplishment with the given frontier conditions (Dirichlet's problem). For the general case, it is not known the analytical solution of these problems. Contemporary computing tools solve this problem using numerica...

In connection with the implementation of European Union's directives is necessary to make use of renewable energy sources (RES). The use of these energy sources is associated with the obligation to act in accordance with the sustainable development concept. In Poland, this concept is provided in Art. 5 of the Constitution of Polish Republic. In the paper, the overall structure of primary energy production in Polish economy in comparison to the European Union was presented in period 2011-2015. The production of ren...

This research focuses on the energy demand and the possibilities of covering the energy needs with renewable energy within the territory of Republic of Moldova. The evaluation of the alternative energy resources is extremely important as the Republic of Moldova mainly depends on Ukraine for imported energy. Developing new sources of energy will partially ensure the stability of the economy. The renewable energy will allow the balancing of the payments and will also strengthen, at least to a certain extent, the cou...

The central part of the East European craton (EEC) is the site of extensive mining activity. The small aperture array ?Mikhnevo? (MHVAR) monitors the weak seismic events in the distance range about 500 km. The most of them are identified as industrial explosions using the S/P amplitude ratio, day-time distribution criteria, spectral content, recurrence and clustering of events. The detailed analysis of waveform variations allows monitoring of the change in the position of the explosion as well as the subtle change...

The aim of this research study is to perform an analysis of the eco-innovation trends and to identify the development opportunities in Latvia. The research methodology applied for this research study involves the theoretical concepts of eco-innovation trends and collects examples of existing and emerging eco-innovative practices in Latvia. The results of the research indicated that the eco-innovation trends in Latvia led to positive results and gave an impulse to increasing economic activities. For evaluation of L...

One of the main conditions for developing qualitative forecasts of energy consumption, as well as identifying the potential for energy conservation, is data on the energy intensity of production in industries. A regional analysis of energy consumption in the economy will help develop a comprehensive, long-term regional energy efficiency program balanced in terms of resources and costs. For Russia, this task is particularly relevant for two reasons. The first is due to the fact that the length of the territory of R...

One of the major environmental problems that is currently being raised is the olfactory discomfort. At present, the odor parameter is not regulated in national legislation, rather than in the Odor Immission Directive - OID- edition of 21 September 2004. The lack of a legal framework in terms of odor immissions constitutes an impediment for health of affected population and might have repercussions also on the economic development of the areas. Odors are one of the most emerging issues related to odor immissions fr...

A complex geological structure with the superimposed effects of over 200 years of coal mining activities is characteristic of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland. Intensive exploitation leads to deformations of the rock mass and ground surface as well. The deformation process developing in the rock mass causes an increase in strains that may result in rockbursts. In this paper the data obtained by the PSInSAR technique covering the northeastern part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin were used. The aim of this pap...

Using vibration processing techniques in tilling is convenient due to design simplicity of the involved devices, as well as to efficiency reasons, such as soil compaction reduction. However, depending on the design of the agricultural machine and on the working regime, such methods can affect the environment, the comfort of the human operator and even his health. The paper studies some effects of the vibrations of an agricultural machine with an eccentric rotating mass, transmitted to the soil and to the human ope...

Within the outlines of work, based on foreign and Russian experience, the urgency of introducing small-scale generations into the real sector of the economy, including mini- thermoelectric plant (mini-TEPs) is stipulated. The main indicators that characterize the efficiency of power plants are provided. The basic techno-economic parameters of power plants, such as specific capital investments for the construction, the cost of electricity and heat, specific estimated operating costs and others, are analysed. Separa...

Fa?ade, as an external finishing of a building, gives the building its original character, obtained due to the choice from variety of forms and freedom in shaping. The decision to use a particular fa?ade system depends on the type of the object, the investor's requirements and financial possibilities, and the designer's creativity. This paper?s aim is to present the procedure of analysis that leads to a choice of the fa fa?ade system for a public building, including criteria such as: cost, technical parameters, ae...

The aim of the presented paper is to analyze the 10-meter wind (U10) conditions of the western part of the Black Sea during the present and near future interval. More precisely, 10 locations were studied. Regarding the geographical location, the points of interest are located in the range 40oN to 47oN and 27oE to 34oE as follows: 2 points are near to the Ukraine?s coast line, 3 to Romania?s coast line, 2 to Bulgaria?s coast line and 3 to Turkey?s coast line. Thus, for analyzing the wind conditions during the prese...

Because of the limited resources of water and increasing demand for it, solutions for wastewater recycling and reuse have become of great interest. Wastewater can be recycled for the same purpose or can be reused for other purpose, but first it must to be treated. In this paper some scenarios of using Sequential Batch Reactors treatment of wastewater were investigated with the purpose of reusing or recycling in small-sized residences like chalets or guest houses. Simulations were done using BioWin, which is a powe...

The most ancient Late Paleozoic flora of the Verkhoyansk is known only on the western slope of the Orulgan Range, where relatively abundant complex of the Early-Middle Carboniferous vegetative remains was identified in the Bylykat Formation by N.A. Shvedov in sixties of the last century. The Bylykat Formation was defined as the lowest stratigraphic unit of the Verkhoyansk terrigenous complex, exposed in the core of the Orulgan anticlinorium [8]. Volume, division into subformations and stage belonging of this predo...

The load forecasting problem is very important for every distribution system operator. The network evolution, associated behavior, related policies, etc. are correlated with this subject. Thepaper is focusing on monthly load curves forecasting. Artificial intelligence based methods such as artificial neural networks and also conventional methods are appliedin order to perform the forecast. A comparison is accomplished in order to provide thebest approach. To achieve this goal several indices have been computed and...

The paper focuses on the results of mathematical modeling aimed to prove the possibility of application aluminum casing for Pulse Neutron Logging (PNL) tool. The simulation was carried out by the Monte Carlo method. A number of time decays for aluminum and steel cased PNL apparatus were calculated for carbonate rocks with different porosity. The model is represented by a rock with a 216 mm diameter well. 146 mm diameter steel column is cased in the well and has filled with fresh water inside. The PNL device is loc...

The exploitation of petroleum deposits in Romania within the ?icleni Petroleum Structure is based on the technological process consisting of drilling for exploration (exploration wells) or for extraction (extraction wells) in three phases. As a consequence of the direct or indirect discharge of crude oil and salted water, the quality of the soil and of the groundwater is affected by petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorides, gases and other organic compounds. Biodegradation is an effective method for decontamination of so...

The article is devoted to the consideration of environmental and social factors in the management of territories and enterprises. Such consideration is crucial for the sustainable development of the territories. The authors use cognitive modeling as a tool. Building a model of the system in the form of a weighted oriented graph allows to take into account factors of different nature in complex interaction. Information for building a model can be obtained from a baseline environmental assessment or an economic and ...

Changing the shoreline is an element of great interest for the coastal communities. The multitude of social, economic and environmental activities that take place in the Romanian coastal area requires a strategic approach. In the present paper, we are discussing strategic options for human intervention in the Romanian coastal zone. Engineering works to protect coasts from coastal erosion must be closely linked to human activities that take place in the coastal area, even though we are talking about tourism, transp...