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The Creative Urban Workshop provided by architects and artists from RTU at Vienna SGEM international conference at December 2025 regarding Islandes Square, Kipsala, Riga, invites international experts and activists to give collaboratively envision a vibrant, multifunctional, and ecologically responsible public space. Positioned as the future -gate- to the RTU campus, Islandes Square offers a unique opportunity to integrate human-scaled urbanism with sustainable design. The workshop includes an introductory talk, o...

Grouping plants by functional traits provides valuable ecological insights and supports the creation of resilient perennial assemblages for urban landscapes. The ecological strategies (CSR) of eight ornamental grasses were assessed using key leaf traits, including leaf area (LA), leaf fresh weight (LFW), and leaf dry weight (LDW). Based on these measurements, additional leaf-level indices were calculated, such as the leaf succulence index (LSI), leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and specifi...

The Baltic Sea Region faces increasing pressure on water resources and ecosystems due to human activity, with nutrient rich treated wastewater discharges being a main cause of eutrophication. Combining algae-based nutrient removal with reclaimed wastewater reuse provides a sustainable solution to reduce pollution while allowing algal biomass recovery for further applications. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate possibilities to use algae cultivation as a tool for nutrient removal from treated wastewate...

In this work we present the particularities of three standing water NATURA 2000 habitats from southwestern section of Romania (Banat region). This study brings information about the current status of these three habitats and based on this appropriate management measures can be taken or reviewed. The studied habitats are: 3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or Iso-to-Nanojuncetea, 3150 Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition and 31...

In recent years, wildfires have become more frequent, intense, and long-lasting due to the combined effects of climate change, including prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, and shifting weather patterns. These conditions, along with expanding urban development in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones, have increased risks to human life, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Tools that are used to simulate wildfires are very useful and effective in fire risk management. In this paper, and under the framework of the p...

Quince (Cydonia oblonga) is a fruit of notable nutritional and therapeutic value, largely due to its high content of bioactive compounds. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity, and polyphenolic profile of quince fruits Through standardized and rigorous physico-chemical analyses, the fruit was shown to possess a complex nutritional profile, with a particularly high concentration of vitamin C. Additionally, quince exhibited strong antioxidant activity, wh...

One of the most significant inland waterway corridors on the continent, the Danube River, spans 2,850 kilometers across ten European nations, serving as a vital link between Western and Eastern Europe. Its ports serve as key hubs for the movement of goods, energy resources, and passengers, linking inland navigation with rail, road, and maritime transport routes. This paper provides a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the entire Danube port network, combining geographical, economic, and operational perspecti...

Data collection and storage are crucial in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) within the socially relevant areas. Despite the increasing volume of information, it is often scattered across various sources, formats, and platforms, making effective analysis and application challenging. The lack of a unified framework for data integration further complicates efforts to leverage AI for informed decision-making, policy formulation, and public service optimisation. This article proposes a structured methodo...

The decarbonization of the building sector and the recent disruption of energy markets has positioned Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) as a pivotal technology for reducing fossil fuel dependency and improving energy efficiency. However, their widespread deployment introduces challenges related to operational reliability, seasonal performance variability, and early fault detection. This study presents a data-driven approach for performance analysis and anomaly detection in real-world ASHP systems. Using five years of m...

Organizations increasingly recognize the importance of workflow management in achieving resource efficiency and environmental goals. This study presents a data-driven approach to monitoring and analysing employee workflow as an integral part of green and circular organizational systems. By incorporating digital activity data such as software usage patterns, communication frequency, meeting durations, and the intensity of multitasking, organizations can identify inefficiencies, digital waste, and work practices tha...

Many environmental topics are hard to master through text-only materials. Comics can present the same information more succinctly and engagingly, but impact depends on design quality. This theoretical paper advances a design theory and replicable process for creating environmental education comics. Synthesising multimedia learning principles, cognitive load management, and Universal Design for Learning, we formalise a cyclic model with six stages. Stages 1 2 establish a stable content baseline: a subject-matter ex...

Design for Adaptability (DfA) is recognized as a lever for the circular economy and is supported by the Level(s) framework and the ISO 20887:2020 standard. Adaptability is a strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector and this contribution explores its potential to address indeterminacy and functional convertibility, applied as a strategy for the reconversion of disused commercial building stock into housing. The research adopts a multi-scale approach that integrates theoretical analysis wit...

Development of renewable energy systems can certainly contribute to climate change mitigation. In many regions initiatives can be noticed to succeed in increasing the efficient usage of renewable energy resources such as hydro power, solar and wind energy as well as bioenergy. From these resources the bioenergy and the hydro power by their storage possibilities have the potential to counterbalance the temporal variability of solar and wind energy. Anyway, by applying such renewable energy resources it is possible ...

Analyzing fire debris is essential for identifying accelerants that may indicate arson. Detecting fire residues remains a significant analytical challenge due to the complexity of burned materials, the volatilization of key compounds, and the interference of pyrolysis byproducts. However, chromatographic separation techniques and mass spectral selectivity advancements provide promising avenues for improving detection accuracy and reliability. Recent developments in portable Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC...

This study explores the possibility of creating detailed maps of organic carbon content in the arable lands of northern Kazakhstan. The technology is based on filtering satellite images with convolutional neural networks and calculating the coefficients of the multi-temporal soil line using remote sensing data with a resolution of 30 meters. Calculating the coefficient of the multi-temporal soil line allowed us to create a map of the bare soil surface, highlighting areas of soil cover heterogeneity. The resulting ...

The aim of this work is to determine the concentration of heavy metals in a series of toys used by children and compare them with the regulations in force. The presence of heavy metals in plastic toys is a significant concern to potential health risk to children. Various studies have identified a range of heavy metals in toys including lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, zinc and other metals which can pose serious health hazards if ingested or absorbed through the skin. Many additives and catalysts used in plastics...

The protective clothing used by workers during the performance of work tasks is subject to the electrification process. The electrification process of protective clothing results in the generation of significant amounts of electrostatic charges both on the outer parts of the protective clothing and on the users' skin, as a result of specific mechanisms for generating electrostatic charges such as electrification by contact or induction. The formation and accumulation of electrostatic charges as a result of the ele...

Latvia is one of the most forested countries in Europe, with forests covering approximately 53% of the country s territory. Forest regeneration often involves the creation of monocultures, which can harm biodiversity and forest sustainability. Intensive planting and the replacement of natural forests with uniform stands increase the vulnerability of forest ecosystems in the long term. Increasing climatic stress is a primary factor contributing to the widespread presence of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typo...

The river Iskar is the object of study. The development aims to update the technological scheme of the resource of surface water bodies for a new reference climatic period (1991-2020) and estimate the annual average values at the end of each water body. For the study, 20 gauging stations were used, which currently represent the NIMH monitoring network in the catchments of the streams on which the resource is based. In terms of area, the stations cover the whole catchment relatively evenly. For the study, the annua...

The valorization of unconventional raw materials as functional ingredients in food fortification is a sustainable solution for the development of innovative products. The primary objective of this study was to explore the active biological potential of quinoa flour (QF) and select vegetable purees (sweet potato, spinach, and red beet) and their valorization in the development of muffin formulations with improved sensory, nutritional, physical and phytochemical properties. Rice flour (RF) was substituted with QF at...

The monitoring of open-pit slope stability is critical for safety, economic, and environmental reasons. The comprehensive approach to monitoring has been analyzed, addressing safety, economic, technological, ecological, legislative, and social responsibility aspects, ultimately contributing to sustainable mining practices. Various methods and technologies for monitoring slope stability have been determined as essential. Visual inspections are useful, but they depend on the qualifications of the observer and may ov...

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) have emerged as replacements for banned brominated flame retardants, raising growing environmental concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity. Despite their global detection, limited data exist for marine environments such as the Black Sea, where monitoring is hindered by the lack of sensitive analytical methods. This study reports the development and validation of a reliable LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of eight OPFRs an...

Drilling fluid viscosity is a critical parameter influencing the efficiency and safety of drilling operations, yet real-time monitoring under dynamic conditions remains challenging due to varying temperature, pressure, and flow rates. This study develops algorithms for continuous, automated viscosity monitoring of drilling fluids to optimize drilling processes. The primary objective is to design robust algorithms capable of accurate viscosity predictions in real-time, addressing limitations of traditional manual m...

Technical equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres generated by the presence of combustible dusts is provided with enclosures that must be designed in such a way as to ensure protection against the ingress of solid bodies and/or dust, as well as water, a concept materialized by the notion of normal protection degree. or increase protection (international code IP). The expression of the normal degree of protection of the casing of a technical equipment is done through the group of letters IP ...

Zephyr AGH represents an attempt to address the need for low-emission transportation. In its initial iteration, it was a race vehicle powered by compressed air. Currently, the project is being developed with a focus on maximizing its utility, particularly in urban traffic conditions. Due to the low energy density of compressed air, it is not a sufficient standalone energy carrier for individual transportation. To maintain the low-emission profile of the vehicle, the design team decided to integrate electric motors...

In the era of advancing digitization, the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology in the construction industry is increasingly evident at advanced level. However, the use of BIM tools during the operational phase of buildings-beyond traditional design and construction-remains a niche area, with integrated digital facility management practices still limited in adoption. In this article, the authors focus on presenting an example of pilot project of implementation of the digital Common Data Env...

The idea of making learning enjoyable using games, GBL, encourages students to think out of the box, work with others and oversee individual learning. This paper investigates GBL by explaining its theoretical framework and explaining the advantages while putting into perspective the practice issues such as lack of sufficient resources and hostility towards change. This segment provides evidence of two educational games that were adapted digitally. The Circular Economy game which is an offshoot of the Quadruple Hel...

The article explores the powerful synergy between digitalisation and environmental sustainability as a foundation for building resilient and future-oriented societies. The research is based on the development of the concept of digitalisation and greening, which are two complementary areas that play an important role in the modern development of society, the economy and technology. By integrating cutting-edge technologies - such as artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, and blockchain - with gre...

The development of geospatial technologies in recent years has profoundly changed the field of topography and cadastre. Now, digital methods using LiDAR, drones, GNSS, and multispectral imaging provide a detailed three-dimensional picture of land, buildings, and ecosystems on campuses. This research examines the combined use of digital topography and remote sensing technologies to manage and capitalize on the resources of the University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timisoara. By integrating data from LiDAR...

This paper investigates the relationship between technological advancement and sustainability, specifically examining whether countries with larger digital workforces and higher income levels use energy more efficiently. Drawing on annual data from 27 European countries between 2013 and 2023, we analyze three key indicators: the number of employed ICT specialists ([isoc_sks_itspt]), real GDP per capita in chain-linked 2020 euros ([sdg_08_10]), and energy intensity of GDP in chain-linked 2015 volumes ([nrg_ind_ei])...

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the most critical European Union (EU) policies, making a significant financial contribution to agriculture and rural development. As a result of CAP reforms, support payments change as they adapt to the global context, thereby contributing to economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Therefore, the present research aims to assess CAP support payments in the context of building more sustainable and resilient agriculture in EU Member States. The research emplo...

Urban green infrastructure is often promoted as a form of nature-based solutions (NbS) designed to simultaneously address environmental, social, and economic challenges. These interventions are expected to deliver benefits across all three dimensions. While existing evidence suggests that urban NbS can indeed tackle multiple issues concurrently, it remains unclear to what extent different components of green infrastructure contribute to these outcomes, and how this translates into practical decisions related to pl...

The circular economy represents a real opportunity to support the sustainable development of rural communities by promoting efficient resource use, waste reduction, and the creation of resilient local economic chains. The generation of new jobs and, consequently, economic development, the reduction of waste quantities and the sustainable valorization of local resources, the promotion of ecological agriculture and bioeconomy, the development and promotion of sustainable forms of tourism, and the reduction of pollut...

The recurrence of droughts increased in the past decades and is foreseen to intensify affecting larger areas than today. As agriculture is among the economic sectors most vulnerable to climate change, with drought representing a key challenge for crop productions, this study assesses the probability of yield loss for major Romanian crops such as, winter wheat, maize, sunflower, grape, in response to varying intensities of drought. To achieve this, a probabilistic modeling framework was constructed, integrating the...

Particulate pollutants are generated at all stages of the preparation of the moulding and core mixture, during the handling of raw materials, during mixing and preparation of the moulding mixture in the mixers, during the moulding process itself, and during both manual and machine moulding. The reason for the generation of a relatively large amount of dust in all the operations associated with the manufacture of moulds and cores is the moulding mixture used, the basis of which is abrasive, i.e. sand, whether quart...

The presented scientific study analyzes the long-term regional trends in the intra-annual distribution of river flow in selected catchments in Kazakhstan: the Buktyrma River - Lesnaya Pristan village, Zhabay River - Atbasar city, Ulken-Kobda River - Kobda village, located in the basins of the Buktyrma, Esil and Zhaiyk rivers, respectively, from 1985 to 2022 years. The river basins were selected as regions characterized by different geographical features of flow formation, significantly affected by climate change. ...

In today-s world, where climate change and environmental protection are becoming increasingly pressing issues, education needs to adapt to prepare young generations to understand and respond to these challenges. Integrating Earth sciences into the classroom is essential for building environmental awareness and developing sustainable practices. This article proposes a plan for integrating environmental education into the curriculum. Earth sciences encompass a variety of disciplines, including geology, meteorology, ...

Lately, the waste black liquor generated through paper manufacturing, has been increased in amounts, which represents a threat to the environment and human health. On the other hand, there is a great concern related to the energy crisis occurring all over the world. The use of fossil fuels through the combustion process generates greenhouse gas emissions being harmful to the environment. For this reason, the principle of the circular economy must be taken into account, ``nothing is lost, everything is transformed'...

Although cities are developing rapidly and dynamically, they also face serious challenges related to the environment, the health of the population and the quality of life. Ecological urbanism seeks to respond to these challenges by integrating green infrastructure into urban landscapes. This approach not only improves the aesthetics of cities, but also contributes to sustainable development, improving public health and increasing biodiversity. The main idea is that cities should function not only as places to live...

In the development of plant communities within permanent grasslands, key environmental factors include relief, climate, soil characteristics, groundwater, and anthropogenic influence. The primary objective of this study was to identify the interdependence between the botanical composition of the plant community, plant productivity, and the main biotope characteristics. The ecological and forage value assessment of the studied ecosystem involved evaluating species requirements for the following ecological indicator...

Facing of growing challenges related to the climate crisis and environmental degradation, this paper explores the strategic combination of an ecological perspective with a safety culture in order to build the sustainable resilience of social-technical systems. Traditional safety culture focuses on reducing of the risk of operational accident. However, in modern society, this needs to be extended to planetary and environmental risks. The aim of this work is to develop a theoretical Ecological Safety Culture Framewo...

Sustainable cooking technologies are widely recognized as essential for reducing household air pollution and mitigating climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite international policy efforts, adoption rates in rural regions remain low. This study investigates the economic and demographic determinants of cleaner cooking adoption among 625 women in the Usangu Plain, southern Tanzania. Using a structured survey dataset and a linear probability model with village fixed effects, we estimate the association between ...

High demands on casting quality require modernization of technology and innovation of technological equipment. The growth of the cost of input raw materials for casting production forces manufacturers to rationalize production and reduce production costs. In addition to the manufacture of the mold, the metallurgy of liquid metal production is an important indicator of the efficiency of casting production. In terms of production costs, the global trend is towards increasing the share of steel scrap in the batch at ...

The article highlights the critical role of liquidity management in banks and underscores the need for legislative-level changes in regulation and the assessment of climate risks in banks to achieve financial stability. Banks face growing expectations from regulators and society to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their business practices, as well as strengthen liquidity and control over climate risks. The article highlights the importance of prioritising the correct regulation o...

The article considers the prospects for the development of industrial tourism in the two-tiered anthropogenic landscapes of the Kryvyi Rih landscape-technical system. Five main features of industrial tourism in this region are highlighted. The presence of powerful mineral deposits, which contributes to the active development of the mining industry, is analysed, and as a result, the main locations for the development of industrial tourism are identified. The paper provides examples of such locations as the quarry o...

The research investigates the impact of persistent organic pollutants, particularly pesticides, on the aquatic ecosystems of the Jiul de Est basin. Pesticides are introduced into water bodies via surface runoff, infiltration, and atmospheric deposition, and their bioavailability is influenced by factors such as pH, temperature, and dissolved organic matter. The research evaluates the ecotoxicological effects on key aquatic species, including Salmo trutta fario (river trout) and Squalius cephalus (common chub), by ...

Adapting to a Circular Economy (CE) within the context of ongoing digital transformation calls for a significant rethinking of educational models. Future professionals must be prepared with technical knowledge and the ability to think in systems and adapt to emerging digital environments. This research tends to analyse how different digital tools (i.e., digital platforms, blockchain, digital twins, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence) can be effectively integrated into educational practices support...

The global climate and biodiversity crises demand an educated, globally literate citizenry, yet a significant gap exists in engaging diverse, multilingual student populations in Environmental and Earth Sciences (EES). This research argues for a transformative pedagogical fusion that integrates EES content with language acquisition strategies in multilingual classrooms. Moving beyond simple translation, we propose a language-sensitive, content-rich approach that leverages students linguistic repertoires as assets f...

In-situ combustion (ISC) is considered one of the most effective method to increase oil recovery from heavy oil and bitumen. Oxygen of injected air reacts with the heavy crude oil components, forming a hot zone, in which the oxidation and cracking of heavy fractions occur. It is known that catalysts of various types can significantly improve the processes of oil upgrading and increase the efficiency of thermal tertiary methods of oil production. This work devoted to study the influence of mixed oxide catalyst pres...

Microalgae are increasingly recognized for their potential in nutrient recovery from wastewater. This study investigated the effect of physical pretreatment of dairy wastewater on the growth and nutrient assimilation of Scenedesmus subspicatus. Cultures were maintained for 14 days in three media: standard Bristol medium, untreated dairy wastewater, and physically pretreated dairy wastewater. Chlorophyll-a content and magnesium concentration were monitored on days 0, 7, and 14 to evaluate algal growth and nutrient ...