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The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted traditional higher education practices, particularly in GeoScience disciplines where fieldwork, site observation, and direct environmental interaction are essential components of learning. Travel restrictions, social distancing measures, and limited access to outdoor learning environments accelerated the adoption of digital teaching methods and created strong demand for alternative experiential learning models. Among these, Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) emerged as an inno...

This paper proposes the concept of the virtual perimeter as an innovative approach for determining the average velocity of ventilation flow in tunnels. Average velocity is a fundamental parameter that defines volumetric and mass flow rates, energy losses, and thermal regimes. Classical methods, based on multipoint measurements with anemometers, are difficult to apply in large tunnels and, in many cases, practically impossible. The virtual perimeter identifies the zone of the tunnel’s cross-section where the loca...

This study explores the spatial distribution and functional characteristics of visitor centres within the system of national natural parks of Ukraine, with a particular focus on the potential of virtual visitor centres as an innovative development pathway. Visitor centres are key elements of park infrastructure that provide information services, regulate visitor flows, and promote the conservation value of protected areas while supporting environmental education and community engagement. The research is based on a...

This study examines the potential of chemically modified spent coffee grounds (SCG) as reinforcement for epoxy bio-composites. SCG was subject to three different modifications - citric acid, acetylation with acetic acid, and potassium permanganate oxidation. Modified SCG was incorporated into epoxy resin at an 80/20 weight ratio, and the resulting composites were evaluated using flexural and impact tests. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data revealed that each chemical modification induced distinct structural mo...

The abstract addresses Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies and their significance in the context of sustainable development and the circular economy. The aim of the article is to analyze current technological approaches to the treatment of municipal and industrial waste, with a focus on their energy potential, environmental impacts, and economic efficiency. The study is based on a comparative analysis of key technologies, such as incineration with energy recovery, pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic digestion, e...

The WatHer project – Water Heritage in European Rural Mediterranean: Re[dis]covering Water Heritage Systems to face climate challenges learning from our past – is funded by the European Union under the Interreg Euro-MED Programme and aims to promote climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention through ecosystem-based approaches. Running from 2025 to 2029, the project is structured around eight pilot cases across the Mediterranean Basin, from Cyprus to Portugal, focusing on the study, restoration, and...

This study compares multiple approaches for surface water mapping using multi-sensor satellite data. Open-access imagery from Sentinel-2 (optical) and Sentinel-1 (SAR) was used for three study sites in Bulgaria. The optical dataset consisted of three Level-2A images acquired under near cloud-free conditions, while the radar dataset included three Ground Range Detected images acquired on dates closest to the optical imagery. Surface water extraction was performed using single- and multi-index approaches for the opt...

Climate change is a major challenge for offshore energy infrastructure, as it alters environmental conditions and increases operational risks. This paper analyzes the vulnerability of offshore platforms to climate-related factors, with a focus on wave climate variability and operational conditions in European seas, distinguishing between fixed platforms, floating installations, Arctic facilities affected by permafrost degradation, and coastal terminals exposed to sea level rise. The study is based on a systematic ...

The geomagnetic field varies in time and space, being a signal composed of periodic and non-periodic elements and is monitored in a triaxial system at observatories around the world. Based on data from INTERMAGNET observatories, we analyze the strongest storm of 2026, which occurred during January 19-21. The methodology used is spectral evaluation (Fourier, wavelet, signal decomposition into approximations and details with various functions on different levels, etc.). The wavelet technique allowed us to analyze th...

Albania, situated in the Mediterranean basin, represents a fire-prone environment where climatic conditions, vegetation heterogeneity, and human pressure interact to shape complex wildfire dynamics. While several studies have focused on meteorological fire-danger forecasting, the frequency of observed wildfire occurrence, and fire severity in terms of burned area extent, considerably less attention has been given to the year-to-year variability of biomass loss. This study examines the impact of wildfire activity o...

Extrusion-based three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) produces a periodic layer structure that renders the printed material inherently anisotropic. Quantifying this anisotropy non-destructively is essential for in-situ quality assurance. In this study, impact-echo (IE) signals were acquired on 52 laboratory-produced 3D-printed mortar prisms in two layer orientations: K (layers perpendicular to the test surface) and R (layers parallel to the test surface). Three IE wave types per specimen - longitudinal (FL), ...

This article presents a technological approach to extract and combine data from government websites to facilitate access to disparate information and obtain valuable analysis on it in response to user queries. The study addresses the challenges of extracting information from complex government sources, which often contain regulatory documents in various formats. The lack of open access complicates data consolidation, leading to fragmented search and analysis processes. Data scraping is proposed as a solution, but ...

This analysis examines the regulatory framework for the seaweed sector and its impact in the Baltic Sea region through a systematic literature review and quantitative approach. The study assessed legislation and policy documents at four levels of governance: international, European Union, regional and national. The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the legal framework for the seaweed sector, to identify the main trends and challenges, and to assess its potential impact on the development ...

Windbreaks are key components of agricultural landscapes, mitigating wind erosion, protecting crops, enhancing microclimate stability, and supporting biodiversity. Despite their ecological and agronomic importance, spatially comprehensive inventories of windbreaks remain limited, particularly at regional and national scales. This study presents a semi-automated GIS-based method for identifying potential windbreak structures in the Malacky district of western Slovakia. Using the Land Parcel Identification System (L...

This article proposes a hybrid project portfolio management model tailored to the needs of public institutions. This hybrid model integrates the predictability and regulatory compliance of traditional project management (the waterfall method) with the flexibility and responsiveness that underpin Agile methodologies. This hybrid model optimizes the simultaneous implementation of infrastructure, environmental, and digital transformation projects each with its distinct lifecycle and management requirements within a u...

Omnicopters are fully actuated UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) with some special properties, such as the ability to fly in an arbitrarily chosen orientation. However, many of their characteristics, including their resistance to wind gusts, remain poorly understood. This paper presents a new multirotor design that can be used to conduct comparative studies. The proposed platform is an eight-engine aircraft, and its main advantage is the ability to rearrange four of the motors between two configurations when landed,...

This paper aims to present an innovative approach to maritime transportation solutions and the need to minimize gas emissions and fuel consumption through green hydrogen research and substitution. Given its critical role in global commerce, maritime transportation has been a key factor for the past decades, specifically regarding the optimization of ship routing. The traditional focus on minimizing distance has been supplemented with modern, sustainability-driven objectives, including greater attention to fuel con...

The study-s aim is to assess the economic and environmental benefits of onshore power supply (OPS) implementation in port areas and to evaluate its cost-effectiveness under different energy price and emission trading scenarios. Specifically, the research investigates how OPS adoption impacts total annual costs, emissions of NOX, SO2, PM, and CO2, and overall cost-effectiveness expressed in euros per pollution unit. A quantitative simulation approach was employed using the OPS Calculation Tool, an Excel-based model...

The concept of circular economy (CE) is a fundamental change in the way we perceive and manage resources, production, and consumption. The transition to a circular economy is a major challenge at international level, considering the context of limited natural resources and the growth of the global population. As the consumption of resources continues to increase, it is essential to find ways to manage raw materials more efficiently and to reduce the anthropic impact on the environment. In this context, the authors...

Brown rot of stone trees is considered from a long period of time the most damaging disease that manifests on plum trees. These disease affects the plum trees throughout the entire vegetation period and these effects can extend to stored fruits (dry or fresh). It is well known that the pathogen has the sexual form Monilinia laxa represented by apothecia with asci and ascospores and the asexual form Monilia laxa represented by conidiophores with conidias. Traditional The form of resistance that transmits the pathog...

Paper presents a technical and economic analysis of the implementation of renewable energy solutions in urban buildings by installing balcony photovoltaic systems. It has been calculated that if 25% of all urban homes in Romania had a balcony photovoltaic system, a total installed power of approximately 1,058 MW would result. The legislative, technical and economic challenges that may hinder the development of these balcony photovoltaic solutions in Europe are analyzed. Information is presented on the influence on...

Increasing the share of renewable energy sources for the generation of electricity in the public electricity network can have an important impact on the performance of the electricity system. An important problem in the electric power system is ensuring the continuity of the supply. The aim of the paper is to present a way to complement energy demand management and smart grids with models that follow changing energy production. This can be achieved by a holistic management system for diagnosis and risk assessment ...

When designing hydraulic, power and civil structures, special attention is paid to the study of the stress-strain state (SSS) of foundations from the soil environment. The operation of such structures often leads to changes in the SSS of the soil base, which can affect their stability. It is known that the SSS of soil bases significantly depends on the physical and mechanical properties of soils, hydrogeological conditions of the environment and the type of loads, in particular on the filtration of groundwater, ma...

This study focuses on the assessment and monitoring of the stress-strain state (SSS) of rock masses under conditions of increasing open-pit mining depth. It examines the influence of natural stresses on the stability of rock formations and the consequences of their disturbance during mining operations, including the risks of deformation and collapse. Particular attention is given to modern geomechanical monitoring methods, which include both direct and indirect (geophysical) approaches, as well as the use of compu...

Sustainable Development Goal 15 ( Life on Land ) emphasizes the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems, yet monitoring biodiversity across large landscapes remains a challenge, particularly for species not yet under direct threat but that serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Terrestrial wildlife monitoring has traditionally relied on direct visual observations, such as point counts or mark-recapture methods; however, these approaches can be challenging to apply to highly vagile, cryptic, rare, ...

Starting in 1992, the Romanian mining industry underwent a restructuring process, which involved the closure of a significant number of mining perimeters. Without conducting a critical analysis of the causes that led to this extensive action and its resulting effects, it can be considered that some mining units, whose minimum geological reserves ensure exploitation for at least 10 years, could have real prospects for promoting solutions that guarantee economic efficiency, at least at the national level. In support...

Hydrological modelling has long been recognised as an essential tool for understanding and predicting water dynamics, particularly in regions where long-term observational data are limited. In Latvia, significant advancements have been made in the development of hydrological models, with the METQ model family becoming one of the most widely applied for the simulation of runoff and groundwater level regimes. Initially developed in the 1980s, METQ has been continuously refined to improve its predictive capabilities,...

In 2021 there were approximately 227,360 ha of abandoned land in Latvia. Bauska district has very fertile soil and active farmers, but despite this, agricultural lands are being afforested. The aim of the research is to analyze and evaluate the reasons and results of afforestation of agricultural lands in Bauska district in order to assess under what afforestation conditions the forest is most successfully grown. Seven properties were afforested in 2019, with a total area of 23.48 ha. Each property was divided int...

The aim of this study is to identify an appropriate management practice applicable to permanent grassland ecosystems located in the low-altitude area of the Western Plain of Romania. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive study was conducted, initially focusing on determining the main soil types and their characteristics. The next stage involved performing soil analyses to identify the natural reserve of macroelements. Subsequently, the type of plant association that defines the permanent grassland ecosystem w...

The article aims to advance the concept of agroeconomics as a pivotal driver of sustainable development, efficient resource utilization, and economic stability-an area of both theoretical and practical significance, given its central role in the ongoing sustainability of the sector. Research methodology: In light of global challenges like population growth, climate change, and finite natural resources, agroeconomics is crucial for ensuring food security, maintaining ecological balance, and supporting the socio-eco...

This paper discusses the relevance of the classical adjustment weights for the highest-order geometric levelling network. The commonly used weights are inversely proportional to the length of levelling lines. The argument behind this choice is the assumption that the accuracy of measured elevations is a function of the square root of the levelled route. Therefore, the longer the line, the less its weight in the adjustment of the network. However, there are often events where the measured elevations of long lines a...

The paper aims to analyze the economic performance of the Romanian aquaculture sector, the main objective is to evaluate key economic indicators in the context of environmental pressures and existing regulations, identifying opportunities and challenges for a sustainable development of the sector. To achieve the proposed objective, the research is based on an analysis of statistical data for the period 2014-2023. This includes economic indicators specific to the aquaculture sector, such as number of companies, num...

Sulina channel is one of the three arms of the Danube, through which the river outflows into the Black Sea. At the same time, this is an important navigation waterway, since it is the main entrance from the Black Sea in the seventh Pan-European transportation corridor, represented by the Maine-Rhine-Danube navigation system. Hence, high navigation traffic is noticed, which was significantly increased in the last years. On the other hand, this area often faces severe weather conditions with high gradients in the en...

In recent years, various crises have occurred around the world. There has been the financial crisis, the crisis related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the migration crisis, and now we are in times of armed conflict, and the crisis related to the war in Ukraine. Companies are operating in times of great uncertainty. In many of them, managers are abandoning policies focused on increasing profits and trying to ensure the possibility of continuing business operations. Changes in management policies are visible, shifting to...

In the era of Industry 4.0, IoT technologies are fundamental for enabling real-time monitoring, operational transparency, and resource efficiency in industrial environments. This paper presents an IoT-based system for monitoring Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), integrating machine-level data to assess availability, performance, and quality in production processes. By combining OEE metrics with real-time energy consumption data, the system supports circular economy goals through reduced energy usage per unit,...

The paper presents a trend analysis in monthly precipitation, air temperature (average, minimum and maximum), air temperature range, potential evapotranspiration, drought and water balance over Romania using data from 156 weather stations. The recently released, freely available RoCliHom dataset has been used for this purpose. Trend analysis was conducted with the nonparametric Mann-Kendall test, as it allows a direct comparison with the vast majority of previous studies on climatic changes in Romania. Our results...

The general concern about climate change and the actions that must be taken to protect the environment are current concerns and occupy the first places on global agenda regarding the search for viable and sustainable solutions. Transition to green energy involves numerous intensely analysed issues with major implications for the economies of many countries. Thus, integration of renewable energy in oil and gas operations is an increasingly used strategy to reduce the carbon footprint and improve sustainability of t...

The paper presents aspects of analyzing the AI possibilities in evaluating equipment for explosive atmospheres. In the first part of the paper, the context of the use of equipment in potentially explosive atmospheres is presented. The presence of flammable substances in industrial applications leads to additional requirements for technical equipment used in such spaces. Furthermore, machinery used in such spaces must remain in working order even when the risk of explosion is present. In summary, to confirm eligibi...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly penetrating all forms of digitised systems and services, including organisational, social, economic, and governmental, revolutionising the way information is processed, and decisions are made. The integration of AI in socially relevant areas is increasingly essential due to the growing use of digital services and the extensive, fragmented information spread across platforms. The lack of a unified approach to processing this data creates challenges in accessibility, reliabili...

The integration of daylighting element into sustainable building design presents a significant opportunity to reduce energy consumption while improving indoor environmental quality. This study focuses on the performance assessment of passive daylight transport systems, with an emphasis on their thermal and optical characteristics. Various configurations of tubular daylighting devices were analyzed using simulation-based methods, considering material properties, geometrical parameters, and hygrothermal conditions o...

The problem of industrial ventilation has arisen as a result of the serious pollution problems that arise both in the industrial and industrial environments. Before addressing an industrial ventilation study, the question should be raised whether there is no simpler means of reducing or eliminating the causes of pollution or of reducing pollution by modifying the production process or the design and construction of the actual ventilation system . The commissioning of an industrial ventilation system occurs wheneve...

Nature of Latvia is very diverse, and one of its most valuable land uses is natural meadows. A natural meadow is a bio-top of grasslands that has formed as a result of long-term grazing or mowing without artificial fertilization and without intensive soil cultivation. Such meadows are not sown with grass their species composition has developed naturally, and rare plant species are also often found there. They are not only part of a beautiful landscape, but also an important ecosystem that provides a habitat for ma...

The seismicity of Albania is primarily driven by the collision between the Adria microplate and the Albanian orogen. The Ionian fault zone, located in southwestern Albania, is characterized by NW-SE trending neotectonic thrust faults with oblique components. These faults are predominantly marked by NW extension and include pre-Pliocene overthrust faults subjected to pure compressive stress. Occasionally, these overthrust faults are intersected by NE-SW-oriented thrust faults. The Ionian overthrust fault zone exten...

3D concrete printing is an innovative approach to construction that enables faster, flexible and material-efficient building construction. A key factor for the broader adoption of this technology is understanding the mechanical properties of printed concrete constructions and validating them through experimental and numerical studies. This paper focuses on the determination of the mechanical properties of digital concrete with emphasis on the effect of production technology, testing and analysis of failure mechani...

This paper analyzes the impact of climate change on cereal crop yields: wheat, corn, and barley, in Constan?a County over the period 1994 2024, emphasizing the relationship between climatic variables (annual average temperature, total precipitation, and the number of hot days) and agricultural performance. Constan?a, one of Romania s most agroclimatically vulnerable regions, provides a relevant case study for Southeastern Europe. The research applies a quantitative methodology, combining climatic and agricultural ...

Industrial activities in the Jiu River basin, especially coal mining, have generated a significant impact on water quality over time, by releasing variable concentrations of heavy metals into the environment. This paper analyzes the trends of variation over time of the degree of heavy metal pollution in the Jiu River, considering the direct influence of the extractive industry in the area. The study is based on data collected from multiple water quality monitoring campaigns, covering an extended period, and aims t...

Babina Agricultural Enclosure is located in the northern sector of the Danube Delta near the Chilia branch, has undergone significant transformations over the decades. Originally designed as part of a large-scale aquaculture system, this area was later converted into agricultural land during the intensive land reclamation projects of the mid-20th century. However, following ecological rehabilitation programs initiated in the 1990s, Babina has regained its prominence as a important site within the Danube Delta Bios...

Water discharges, suspended load and hydrochemistry for 35 inflows of largest Caucasian Lake Sevan were measured 3 times in different hydrological seasons during 2024 and 2025. During summer most of small streams dried out while in winter a number of rivers were frozen into the bottom. The water discharges varied from 0.01 in summer to 8.02 m3/sec in spring. Large natural inflows are Argichi, Dzknaget, Gavaraget, Masrik rivers with water discharges in spring 8.0, 6.3, 4.5, 2.8 m3/sec correspondingly. By the end of...

This study evaluated the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Nepeta - faassenii (family Lamiaceae), a perennial aromatic hybrid derived from N. racemosa and N. nepetella [12]. The genus Nepeta is recognized for its essential oils rich in nepetalactones, phenolic acids, and flavonoids, which contribute to notable biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insect-repellent effects [3], [9], [10], [12]. The Nepeta Vegetal Extract (NVE) was obtained through ultrasonic extraction using 60 % e...

Bulgaria is characterized by a high level of landslide activity and erosion-abrasion processes. The main factors affecting slope stability often include rising groundwater levels, river erosion, abrasion, flash floods, and surface runoff. Traditional horizontal or vertical drainage systems may take months or even years to become fully effective. To expand drainage options for steep slopes and accelerate the dewatering process, this paper reviews current drainage practices and surface runoff management at two sites...