scholarly journals Deforestation Processes in the Polish Mountains in the Context of Terrain Topography

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bałazy ◽  
Ciesielski ◽  
Waraksa ◽  
Zasada ◽  
Zawiła-Niedźwiecki

In the 1980s, the Western Sudety Mountains were affected by a forest dieback process, resulting in large-scale deforestation covering an area of about 15,000 ha. A similar phenomenon is presently being observed in the Western Beskidy and Eastern Sudety Mountains, where the course of the process and the final effects are similar. The presented study analyzed the relationships between forest dieback processes today and in the past. Among others, the impact of the following factors was examined: exposure, slope, altitude, and topographic index, which was generated based on the airborne LIDAR (also airborne laser scanning abbreviated as ALS) data. The identification of forest dieback areas in the past was carried out based on the archived Landsat satellite imagery, as well as data obtained from the Polish State Forests. The identification of forest dieback areas at present was carried out based on the ALS data (single-tree detection approach) and color infrared aerial images. In the study, inter-dependencies between forest dieback today and in the past were compared. The performed analyses show significant differences between forests’ dieback specifics in all three areas. The process first occurred at 800–900 m a.s.l., and afterwards at over 900 m. Mortality was especially intensive on the western and southwestern slopes. Below 700 m a.s.l., forests survived quite well. In the 1980s, significantly higher concentrations of hazardous chemical compounds were noted, which resulted in respectively greater deforestations on aspects open to the operation of prevailing winds (mainly west). Nowadays, a proportionately higher number of trees die on the southern aspects, which is particularly visible in the Western Sudety Mountains.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-297
Author(s):  
A. I. Pogorletskiy ◽  
◽  
F. Söllner ◽  

In this article, we shall see how pandemics of deadly diseases have changed tax systems over the past two millennia, each time leading to the emergence of new forms of taxation and tax administration. The purpose of the article is to prove that pandemics and the most notable innovations in tax policy are closely interrelated and that the consequences of the largest pandemics in the history of mankind are new approaches to the organization of national tax systems as well as the formation of interstate tax regulation. The lessons from history can be applied to the current corona crisis and may help us devise the appropriate anti-crisis tax policy. The study is based on the historical empirical-inductive method applied to reliable facts of the past related to pandemics and taxation. We trace the evolution of tax policy under the impact of the most significant pandemics and identify patterns of taxation and tax administration that are specific to their eras and are still relevant in the course of the pandemic COVID-19. Our analysis allows us to draw the following conclusions: (1) There is a historical link between pandemics and tax regulation. Many tax innovations originated in response to the consequences of large-scale epidemics of deadly diseases. (2) Many of the tax incentive tools used today in the fight against the corona crisis have already been used during previous pandemics so that we may learn from the experience of earlier times. (3) The COVID-19 pandemic can be expected to have several important consequences for taxation and public finance: innovations in tax administration with an emphasis on remote fiscal audits and digital control; innovations in the taxation of digital companies and their operations at the national and international level; possibly fundamental changes in the tax system of the European Union; and possibly a return of the inflation tax.


Author(s):  
W. Ostrowski ◽  
M. Pilarska ◽  
J. Charyton ◽  
K. Bakuła

Creating 3D building models in large scale is becoming more popular and finds many applications. Nowadays, a wide term “3D building models” can be applied to several types of products: well-known CityGML solid models (available on few Levels of Detail), which are mainly generated from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data, as well as 3D mesh models that can be created from both nadir and oblique aerial images. City authorities and national mapping agencies are interested in obtaining the 3D building models. Apart from the completeness of the models, the accuracy aspect is also important. Final accuracy of a building model depends on various factors (accuracy of the source data, complexity of the roof shapes, etc.). In this paper the methodology of inspection of dataset containing 3D models is presented. The proposed approach check all building in dataset with comparison to ALS point clouds testing both: accuracy and level of details. Using analysis of statistical parameters for normal heights for reference point cloud and tested planes and segmentation of point cloud provides the tool that can indicate which building and which roof plane in do not fulfill requirement of model accuracy and detail correctness. Proposed method was tested on two datasets: solid and mesh model.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Cucchiaro ◽  
Guido Paliaga ◽  
Daniel J. Fallu ◽  
Ben R. Pears ◽  
Kevin Walsh ◽  
...  

<p>Geomorphometric information can be exploited to study the most extensive and common landforms that humans have ever produced: agricultural terraces. An understanding of these historical ecosystems can only be determined through in-depth knowledge of their origin, evolution, and current state in the landscape. These factors can ultimately assist in the future preservation of such landforms in a world increasingly affected by anthropogenic activities. High-resolution topographic (HRT) techniques allow the mapping and characterization of geomorphological features with wide-ranging perspectives at multiple scales. From HRT surveys, it is possible to produce high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) to extract important geomorphometric parameters such as topographic curvature, to identify terrace edges, even if abandoned or covered by uncontrolled vegetation. By using riser bases as well as terrace edges (riser tops) and through the computation of minimum curvature, it is possible to obtain environmentally useful information on these agricultural systems such as terrace soil thickness and volumes. The quantification of terrace volumes can provide new benchmarks for soil erosion models, new perspectives for land and stakeholders for terrace management in terms of natural hazard and offer a measure of the effect of these agricultural systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. This work aims to realize and test an innovative and rapid methodological workflow to estimate the minimum anthropogenic reworked and moved soil of terrace systems in different landscapes. This aspect of new technology and its application to terrace soil-systems has not been fully explored in the literature. We start with remote terrace mapping at a large scale (using Airborne Laser Scanning) and then utilize more detailed HRT surveys (i.e., Structure from Motion and Terrestrial Laser Scanning) to extract geomorphological features, from which the original theoretical slope-surface of terrace systems were derived. These last elements were compared with in-field sedimentological recording obtained from the excavations across the study sites to assess the nature of sub-surface topographies. The results of this work have produced accurate DTMs of Difference (DoD) for three terrace sites in central Europe in Italy and Belgium. The utilization of ground-truthing through field excavation and sampling has confirmed the reliability of the methodology used across a range of sites with very specific terrace morphologies, and in each case has confirmed the nature of the reconstructed, theoretical original slope. Differences between actual and theoretical terraces from DTM and excavation evidence have been used to estimate the minimum soil volumes and masses used to remould slopes. Moreover, geomorphometric analysis through indices such as sediment connectivity permitted also to quantify the volume of sediment transported downstream, with the associated and mobilized C, after a collapsed terrace. The quantification of terrace soil volumes provides extremely useful standards for further multi-disciplinary analysis on the terrace sediments themselves, aiding physical geographers, geoarchaeologists, palaeo-environmentalists, and landscape historians in the understanding of terrace systems and the impact of agricultural processes on the landscape.</p>


Author(s):  
X. Zheng ◽  
C. Xiao

The technology of airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), also referred to as Airborne Laser Scanning, is widely used for high-resolution topographic data acquisition (even under forest cover) with sub-meter planimetric and vertical accuracy. This contribution constructs the real digital terrain model to provide the direct observation data for the landscape analysis in geological domains. Based on the advantage of LiDAR, the authors mainly deal with the applications of LiDAR data to such fields as surface land collapse, landslide and fault structure extraction. The review conclusion shows that airborne LiDAR technology is becoming an indispensable tool for above mentioned issues, especially in the local and large scale investigations of micro-topography. The technology not only can identify the surface collapse, landslide boundary and subtle faulted landform, but also be able to extract the filling parameters of collapsed surface, the geomorphic parameters of landslide stability evaluation and cracks. This technology has extensive prospect of applications in geological investigation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-75
Author(s):  
Tomasz Michalski

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie wpływu zmiany funkcji pełnionych przez port w Ustce na jego fizjonomię. Analiza funkcjonalna dotyczy głównie okresu 2016-2019. Natomiast analizę fizjonomii przeprowadzono dla 2021 r. Stwierdzono, że podstawowa dla portów funkcja przeładunkowa jest w Ustce pełniona w minimalnym stopniu. Funkcja turystyki morskiej jest realizowana w stopniu niewystarczającym (brak mariny jachtowej), a żeglugi pasażerskiej nie jest realizowana. Port pełni nadal funkcję rybołówstwa i wędkarstwa rekreacyjnego, ale w stopniu mniejszym, niż w przeszłości. Działalność produkcyjna na terenie portu nie jest już prowadzona, chociaż w przeszłości była realizowana na dużą skalę. Istnieje szansa, że w porcie rozwinie się funkcja związana z konserwacją i eksploatacją farm wiatrowych. Obecnie w porcie rozwijają się silnie funkcja turystyczna (gastronomia, hotele itd.) oraz mieszkaniowa. Wprowadzenie tej ostatniej funkcji do portu uznano za błąd. Zmiany funkcji powodują zmiany w fizjonomii portu. Znikają obiekty przemysłowe i przeładunkowe, a na ich miejsce pojawiają się obiekty z funkcją hotelową i gastronomiczną oraz mieszkaniowe, aczkolwiek zmiany te zachodzą z dużym opóźnieniem. The impact of changes in the performed functions on the physiognomy of the port in Ustka The aim of the article is to present the impact of changes in the functions performed by the port in Ustka on its physiognomy. The functional analysis mainly covers the period of 2016-2019, while the analysis of the physiognomy was conducted for 2021. It was found that the basic trans-shipment function is played to a minimum extent in Ustka. The function of sea tourism is insufficiently realized (no yacht marina), and the function of passenger shipping is not performed. The function of recreational fishing and angling is still performed by the port, but to a lesser extent than in the past. There is no longer any production activity in the port area, although in the past it was carried out on a large scale. There is a chance that the port will develop a function related to the maintenance and operation of wind farms. On the other hand, the tourist function (gastronomy, hotels, etc.) and housing are strongly developing in the port. Introducing the latter function into the port was considered a mistake. Changes in functions result in changes to the port physiognomy. Industrial and trans-shipment facilities are disappearing and replaced with hotel, catering and residential facilities. However, these changes are long delayed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Wiedmann ◽  
Ashraf M. Salama ◽  
Hatem G. Ibrahim

The recent construction boom has led to new urban development dynamics in Gulf cities driven by real-estate speculations and large infrastructure investments. While in the past affordable housing for medium income migrants and their families was integrated within the fringes of old downtown areas and compound developments in the suburbs, recent investment patterns have led to an increasing challenge of these economically highly engaged social groups to find residences. In recent years, a newly emerging trend in the Gulf region has been the establishment of large scale mass housing projects as new dormitory settlements to address the growing demand for affordable housing. This paper presents an overview of current development patterns by exploring two major affordable housing projects and their impact on sustainability in Doha and Dubai. This is undertaken by establishing a preliminary assessment framework that involves relevant sustainability parameters. The assessment reveals the major differences between both projects and their impact on environment, economy, and society.


Author(s):  
M. Pepe ◽  
G. Prezioso

The ability to build three-dimensional models through technologies based on satellite navigation systems GNSS and the continuous development of new sensors, as Airborne Laser Scanning Hydrography (ALH), data acquisition methods and 3D multi-resolution representations, have contributed significantly to the digital 3D documentation, mapping, preservation and representation of landscapes and heritage as well as to the growth of research in this fields. <br><br> However, GNSS systems led to the use of the ellipsoidal height; to transform this height in orthometric is necessary to know a geoid undulation model. The latest and most accurate global geoid undulation model, available worldwide, is EGM2008 which has been publicly released by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) EGM Development Team. Therefore, given the availability and accuracy of this geoid model, we can use it in geomatics applications that require the conversion of heights. Using this model, to correct the elevation of a point does not coincide with any node must interpolate elevation information of adjacent nodes. <br><br> The purpose of this paper is produce a Matlab® geodetic software for processing airborne LIDAR bathymetry data. In particular we want to focus on the point clouds in ASPRS LAS format and convert the ellipsoidal height in orthometric. The algorithm, valid on the whole globe and operative for all UTM zones, allows the conversion of ellipsoidal heights using the EGM2008 model. Of this model we analyse the slopes which occur, in some critical areas, between the nodes of the undulations grid; we will focus our attention on the marine areas verifying the impact that the slopes have in the calculation of the orthometric height and, consequently, in the accuracy of the in the 3-D point clouds. This experiment will be carried out by analysing a LAS APRS file containing topographic and bathymetric data collected with LIDAR systems along the coasts of Oregon and Washington (USA).


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 122-141
Author(s):  
A. A. Rogozhin

The article examines one of the main directions of the implementation of a large-scale program of economic reforms in Saudi Arabia (Saudi Vision-2030), aimed at ridding the Kingdom’s economy of an alarming dependence on oil export revenues – the digital transformation of society, governing structures, and the economy as a whole. In the past few years, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, which has become the largest in the Middle East, is increasingly visible not only in this region. Its development is particularly dynamic due to large investments in the latest technologies. The success of the ICT sector was also facilitated by the creation of new supervisory bodies and the improvement of the regulatory framework for various areas of digitalization. The country’s leadership aims to make Saudi Arabia one of the world’s leading countries in the field of ICT by building a digital economy based on the principles of the Fourth Industrial Revolutionanddigitalgovernanceofsociety. The five-year digital development strategy (2019–2023) provides for the growth of the ICT sector by 50% and an increase in the rate of “Saudization” of this sector to 50% by 2023. This strategy is expected to increase the contribution of the ICT sector to the economy by at least $13.3 billion. Assessing the prospects for the development of digitalization in Saudi Arabia, the author found four factors that make it possible to assess them as very favorable – sufficient funding, acceleration of the privatization process, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the inevitability of the diversification of the national economy, which is impossible without digitalization.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 112 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 253-258
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Shea

Antimicrobial resistance has reached crisis stage in human medicine. The rapid acceleration of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the past 2 decades has overtaken new drug development, and patients and clinicians are faced with the prospect of untreatable infections. Although much of the problem stems from overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents in human medicine, large-scale use of antimicrobials in agriculture also contributes to the crisis. Agricultural uses of antibiotics produce environmental exposures in a variety of reservoirs, which select for resistant microbes and microbial genes. This article presents the major lines of evidence documenting the risks to human health of some of the agricultural uses of antimicrobials. A brief review of the microbiologic antecedents of resistance is followed by a discussion of agricultural uses of antimicrobials and a targeted review of the literature, which provides the background knowledge and evidence necessary for pediatricians and other clinicians to be informed and to advocate for judicious use of antimicrobials in all sectors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (SPE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurbangalieva Dinara Lenarovna

Throughout the past decade, the theme of reputation has attracted growing interest in the world of corporate business. This interest is primarily due to the fact that reputation is beginning to have an increasing impact on the capitalization of brands. In addition, the accelerated development of information technology and the subsequent large-scale expansion of the organization into digital markets, with a new force, expanded the scientific field of research on the impact of intangible factors on the activities of brands. In numerous publications devoted to the study of the term reputation, both domestic and foreign researchers, there are different approaches to its definition. Previous analysis of works has shown that the reputation of an organization is often confused with the categories «brand», «brand image», «intangible assets», «goodwill» or «business reputation» (Malakhov, 2009), which have other nature and meaning. This article analyzes the views of various researchers of the above terms and, based on the work done, attempts to systematize these terms and offers the author's definition of the definition of «brand reputation». This research will provide a theoretical basis for further research, namely, quantitative assessment of reputation in the era of market transformation and the spread of modern technologies.


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