scholarly journals An Assessment and Spatial Modelling of Agricultural Land Abandonment in Spain (2015–2030)

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Perpiña Castillo ◽  
Eloína Coll Aliaga ◽  
Carlo Lavalle ◽  
José Carlos Martínez Llario
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Spatial Modelling ◽  
Land Abandonment ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
High Nature Value Farmland

This article presents a study based on the outputs from the LUISA Territorial modelling platform (Joint Research Centre of the European Commission) focused on regional and local future projections of land abandonment between 2015 and 2030. Spain is taken as representative of one of the countries highly affected by agricultural land abandonment in the European Union. The most relevant factors driving land abandonment (biophysical, agroeconomics, farm structure and demographic) are described and mapped. Results from the analysis reveal that the Galicia region, northern Spain (Asturias, Cantabria, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia), north-eastern Spain (Aragón region), central Pyrenees/Ebro basin (Huesca, Navarra, Lleida) and south-eastern Spain (Murcia, Almería, Alicante, Málaga) are expected to undergo important abandonment processes. The study also concludes that land abandonment within mountainous, high nature value farmland and Natura 2000 areas is lower compared to the outside area without conservation and protection measures.

scholarly journals A Harmonized Data Model for Noise Simulation in the EU

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavisha Kumar ◽  
Hugo Ledoux ◽  
Richard Schmidt ◽  
Theo Verheij ◽  
Jantien Stoter
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Data Model ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Schema Design ◽  
Noise Assessment ◽  
The Eu

This paper presents our implementation of a harmonized data model for noise simulations in the European Union (EU). Different noise assessment methods are used by different EU member states (MS) for estimating noise at local, regional, and national scales. These methods, along with the input data extracted from the national registers and databases, as well as other open and/or commercially available data, differ in several aspects and it is difficult to obtain comparable results across the EU. To address this issue, a common framework for noise assessment methods (CNOSSOS-EU) was developed by the European Commission’s (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC). However, apart from the software implementations for CNOSSOS, very little has been done for the practical guidelines outlining the specifications for the required input data, metadata, and the schema design to test the real-world situations with CNOSSOS. We describe our approach for modeling input and output data for noise simulations and also generate a real world dataset of an area in the Netherlands based on our data model for simulating urban noise using CNOSSOS.

Landscape change analysis and assessment (case studies in Slovakia and Bulgaria)

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Feranec ◽  
Monika Kopecka ◽  
Rumiana Vatseva ◽  
Anton Stoimenov ◽  
Jan Otahel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Landscape Change ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Change Analysis ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Data Layer ◽  
Environment Agency ◽  
Data Layers

AbstractLandscape change assessment was conducted in selected areas of Slovakia and Bulgaria in 1990–2000 using CORINE land cover (CLC) data layer analysis. Assessment of causes that led to these changes was undertaken, with an emphasis on those that determined the extensification of agriculture. The LC data were obtained under the CLC90 and I&CLC2000 projects, jointly managed by the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen, Denmark and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in Ispra, Italy. The CLC1990-2000-changes data layer was generated by overlaying the CLC90 and CLC2000 data layers for change in areas of a minimum 5 ha. The analysed causes of changes (driving forces) were then classified. Land cover (LC) changes characterizing urbanization processes occurred only in the Trnava and Tatras areas. Intensification of agriculture was also higher in these two areas. LC changes characterizing the extensification of agriculture were dominant in Plovdiv and Trnava. Deforestation and forestation were identified in all areas (Trnava, Tatras, Plovdiv, and Burgas). The basic reasons of these changes were related to the transformation of national economies from being centrally planned to market controlled, following the fall of socialism and before the countries joined the European Union.

scholarly journals The science-policy interface – in need for "society" as a third component

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jutta Thielen-del Pozo ◽  
Lise Autogena ◽  
Joshua Portway ◽  
Florian Pappenberger
Keyword(s):  
Science Policy ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Weather Forecast ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Science Policy Interface ◽  
A Performance

<p>The European Union is funding research through so-called framework programmes (FPs), the financial and strategic tools to stimulate excellence, innovation, economic growth and creation of jobs across Europe. The allocated research budgets increased considerably from less than 4 billion Euro for FP1 (4 years) to 100 billion for Horizon Europe (FP9, 7 years), demonstrating the strategic importance that is being attributed to research and development for a strong and competitive Europe. The upcoming framework programme Horizon Europe will add a new level of ambition for the scientific, economic as well as societal impact of EU funding and address global challenges that affect the quality of our daily lives.</p><p>However, if societal issues that affect our everyday lives are to be addressed effectively in research and to drive the necessary innovation process in view of a better future, then the third component at the science-policy interface must be “society”. Robust data, facts and evidences represent an important input to policy making in addition to other inputs and considerations. Scientists and policy makers must therefore not only network amongst their communities and experts but also interact with the public and engage in dialogue with citizens in order to first understand what the concerns and issues are and later to explain the solutions.</p><p>The Joint Research Centre has engaged in an Art, Science and Society programme to fill this gap. Artists are invited to the JRC to co-develop projects with the scientists under a specific theme – in 2015 the topic was “Food”, in 2017 “Fairness” and in 2019 “Big Data, Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence”. The final works are exhibited during the so-called Resonances Festival.</p><p>This presentation illustrates at the example of the Resonances III installation “Weather Prediction by Numerical Process - a forecast for Europe” by artists Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway in collaboration with the co-authors, the added value of this approach. The installation is a performance inspired by the work of L.F. Richardson (1881–1953), a truly multi-disciplinary scientist, who contributed to finite difference solutions of partial differential equations, turbulent flow and diffusion, also fractals, and the cause and evolution of conflicts. He was particularly visionary in his work on designing a numerical scheme for weather forecasting. While serving as ambulance driver during WWI, he performed the calculation for a weather forecast for Europe “by hand”. Even if the result of his years of calculations resulted in a wrong forecast because the numerical solution was not stable, the methodology for numerical weather forecast was born and today’s weather forecasts follow largely the same method – just with infinite more computing power. Richardson estimated that 64000 scientists, working together in a big orchestrated calculation, would be needed to calculate the weather in real-time.</p><p>The chosen format for the art installation is a performance, ritualistically re-enacting a small part of this epic calculation, drawing the audience into a multi-faceted discussion on the relevance of Richardson’s legacy today in the times of super computing and climate change.</p>

scholarly journals Abandonment and Recultivation of Agricultural Lands in Slovakia—Patterns and Determinants from the Past to the Future

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Pazúr ◽  
Juraj Lieskovský ◽  
Matthias Bürgi ◽  
Daniel Müller ◽  
Tibor Lieskovský ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Boosted Regression Trees ◽  
Land Abandonment ◽  
Agricultural Land Use ◽  
Open Market ◽  
The European Union ◽  
National Capital

Central and Eastern Europe has experienced fundamental land use changes since the collapse of socialism around 1990. We analyzed the patterns and determinants of agricultural land abandonment and recultivation in Slovakia during the transition from a state-controlled economy to an open-market economy (1986 to 2000) and the subsequent accession to the European Union (2000 to 2010). We quantified agricultural land-use change based on available maps derived from 30-m multi-seasonal Landsat imagery and analyzed the socioeconomic and biophysical determinants of the observed agricultural land-use changes using boosted regression trees. We used a scenario-based approach to assess future agricultural land abandonment and recultivation until 2060. The maps of agricultural land use analysis reveal that cropland abandonment was the dominant land use process on 11% of agricultural land from 1986 to 2000, and on 6% of the agricultural land from 2000 to 2010. Recultivation occurred on approximately 2% of agricultural land in both periods. Although most abandoned land was located in the plains, the rate of abandonment was twice as high in the mountainous landscapes. The likelihood of abandonment increased with increased distance from the national capital (Bratislava), decreased with an increase of annual mean temperatures and was higher in proximity to forest edges and on steeper slopes. Recultivation was largely determined by the opposite effects. The scenario for 2060 suggests that future agricultural land abandonment and recultivation may largely be determined by climate and terrain conditions and, to a lesser extent, by proximity to economic centers. Our study underscores the value of synergetic use of satellite data and land-use modeling to provide the input for land planning, and to anticipate the potential effects of changing environmental and policy conditions.

scholarly journals Glass Waste3: A Preliminary Study for a New Industrial Recovery Processing

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1997
Author(s):  
Rossana Bellopede ◽  
Lorena Zichella ◽  
Paola Marini
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Separation Efficiency ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Glass Production ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Flow Sheet ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Glass Waste

In recent times, the selection and treatment of glass waste are implemented in processing plants where a secondary raw material (SRM) named glass cullet, which is suitable for glass production, and a waste containing a high percentage of glass (glass waste2) is obtained. In the literature, there are many studies conducted on the recovery of the cullet, while few are the studies on the recovery of the waste that is produced by cullet processing. According to the 2013 Joint Research Centre (JRC) Reference report, the cullet produces savings in terms of energy and raw materials. However, it has a high current cost and its availability is becoming difficult, therefore its use is not always economically advantageous. The goal and strategy of the European Union is zero waste. For this purpose, further treatment of glass waste has been investigated. Through the industrial treatment of the glass waste2, a glass waste3 constituted again by an SRM made of glass is obtained together with a high quantity of presumed SRM (e.g., heavy plastic, corks, iron, non-ferrous metals, etc.). The process treatment separating these SRMs from the glass waste3 is, in this case, a pilot plant that needs to be optimized in order to reach an economic and sustainable industrial process solution. In particular, the materials to be recycled are exploitable product fractions with different particle sizes and physical properties (such as density, shape and resistance). This research is based on data collected from a North Italy process plant and is aimed at solving the issue of waste in this kind of process by implementing a pilot plant already present. Representative samples of feed material (glass waste3) and different products of the pilot plant have been analyzed. Moreover, laboratory tests were executed to improve separation efficiency and to valorize the different product fractions. A flow sheet of a new treatment plant has been developed and an economic evaluation has been made. The materials that will be separated in the new plant could be traded as SRM—e.g., plastics, metals, synthetic and cork stoppers—which constitute almost 90% of the total feed of the plant.

scholarly journals A Benthic Zonation System as a Fundamental Tool for Natural Capital Assessment in a Marine Environment: A Case Study in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Marcelli ◽  
Sergio Scanu ◽  
Francesco Manfredi Frattarelli ◽  
Emanuele Mancini ◽  
Filippo Maria Carli
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Marine Ecosystem Services

Coastal marine areas are characterized by the highest values of ecosystem services and by multiple uses that are often in conflict with each other. Natural capital analysis is claimed to be a valid tool to support space planning. In the context of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) of the European Union (EU), the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) Scientific and Policy Report 2014 defines the monitoring of specific descriptors and their possible use, based on an ecosystem-services approach. Mediterranean marine ecosystems are characterized by high biodiversity and the presence of relevant benthic biocenosis that can be used as a tool to support coastal planning, conservation, and monitoring programs. In this study, we considered the Mediterranean benthic biocenosis, as classified by Pérès and Picard, as a working tool and propose a basic spatial unit for the assessment of marine ecosystem services. Focusing on a high-resolution local-scale analysis, this work presents an accurate identification of the different biocenoses for the coastal area of Civitavecchia in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy, and ecosystem services, as well as a benefits assessment, of the Posidonia oceanica meadows.

scholarly journals SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC OBSERVATORY /DARNUS VYSTYMASIS BESIVYSTANČIOSE ŠALYSE: AFRIKOS, KARIBŲ IR RAMIOJO VANDENYNO VALSTYBIŲ APŽVALGA

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 736-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Roggeri ◽  
Alan Belward ◽  
Philippe Mayaux ◽  
Hugh Eva ◽  
Andreas Brink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Strategic Partnership ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Freshwater Aquaculture ◽  
African Caribbean ◽  
Development Goals

Freshwater, aquaculture, fisheries, biodiversity, forests, and agricultural land have high economic and social value throughout the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region; but they can also be over‐exploited, with damaging consequences for local economies, long term stability and for the Earth system as a whole – especially the climate system. The ACP's fast growing population puts growing pressure on the environment to provide food, water and fibre, on the regions’ urban centres and transport networks, and on energy sources. Information on the location, condition and evolution of resources is an important step towards sustainability, but unfortunately such information can be hard to get. Earth observing satellite technology combined with geographical information management can help fill the information gap. In this objective, and because of its unique position to support the implementation of advanced interoperable geospatial technologies, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC) is setting‐up of an “Observatory for sustainable development” as single portal to support decision‐making for development in the fields of natural resource and food security. The African Union and European Union recognise the importance of this service and are beginning to develop this capacity as part of the AU EU joint strategic partnership. This paper describes the needs, and presents the first steps taken by the JRC and by the joint partnership in harnessing space technologies to help meet Millennium Development Goals, in particular eradication of poverty, and environmental sustainability. Santrauka Gėlasis vanduo, akvakultūra, žuvininkystė, biologinė įvairovė, miškų ir žemės ūkio paskirties žemė turi didėlę ekonominę ir socialinę vertę visoje Afrikoje, Karibų ir Ramiojo vandenyno (AKR) valstybių regione, bet šie veiksniai gali būti per daug eksploatuojami ir tureti žalingų padarinių vietinei ekonomikai, ilgalaikiam stabilumui ir visai Žemės sistemai, ypač klimato sistemai. Dėl greitai augančio AKR gyventojų skaičiaus regionų miestų centruose transporto tinklų ir energijos šaltinių vietose dideja aplinkos naudojimo mastas, siekiant gyventojus aprūpinti maistu, vandeniu ir lasteliena. Informacija apie vietoves išteklius, išteklių būklę ir raidą yra svarbus žingsnis siekiant darnos, bet, dėja, tokia informacija sunku surinkti. Žemės stebejimo palydovais technologija, sujungta su geografines informacijos valdymu, gali padėti užpildyti šios informacijos spragą. Dėl šio tikslo ir dėl unikalios padėties, siekiant diegti pažangias tarpusavyje saveikaujančias geoerdvines technologijas, Europos Komisijos (EK) jungtinis tyrimu centras (JTC) yra įkūręs Darnaus vystymosi observatorijas kaip viena portalą, kad palaikytų sprendimų priemimo plėtote gamtinių išteklių ir maisto saugumo srityse. Afrikos Sąjunga (AS) ir Europos Sąjunga (ES) pripažįsta šios paslaugos svarbą ir pradėjo plėtoti šiuos pajėgumus kaip dali strateginės AS ir ES partnerystės. Straipsnyje pristatomi pirmieji žingsniai, žengti AKR valstybių, plėtojant jungtinę partnerystę kosminių technologijų srityje, siekiant spręsti tūkstantmečio tikslus – mažinti skurdą ir tobulinti darnų aplinkos vystymą.

scholarly journals Predicting Future Forest Ranges Using Array-based Geospatial Semantic Modelling

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Mulder Osenga
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
European Union ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Joint Research Centre ◽  
Semantic Modelling ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Studying the impacts of climate change requires looking at a multitude of variables across a broad range of sectors [1,2]. Information on the variables involved is often unevenly available or offers different uncertainties [3,4], and a lack of uniform terminology and methods further complicates the process of analysis, resulting in communication gaps when research enterprises span different sectors. For example, models designed by experts in one given discipline might assume conventions in language or oversimplify cross-disciplinary links in a way that is unfamiliar for scientists in another discipline. Geospatial Semantic Array Programming (GeoSemAP) offers the potential to move toward overcoming these challenges by promoting a uniform approach to data collection and sharing [5]. The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has been exploring the use of geospatial semantics through a module in the PESETA II project (Projection of economic impacts of climate change in sectors of the European Union based on bottom-up analysis). <BR/>This manuscript has been accepted for publication in IEEE Earthzine 2014 Vol. 7 Issue 2, 2nd quarter theme: Geospatial Semantic Array Programming. The definitive version will be published at: http://www.earthzine.org/

scholarly journals 30 years of European Commission Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring Database (REMdb) – an open door to boost environmental radioactivity research

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Sangiorgi ◽  
Miguel A. Hernández Ceballos ◽  
Giorgia Iurlaro ◽  
Giorgia Cinelli ◽  
Marc de Cort
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Chernobyl Accident ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Environmental Radioactivity ◽  
Monitoring Data ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Joint Research

Abstract. The Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring data bank (REMdb) was created in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident (1986) by the European Commission (EC) – DG Joint Research Centre (DG JRC), sited in Ispra (Italy). Since then it has been maintained there with the aim to keep a historical record of the Chernobyl accident and to store the radioactivity monitoring data gathered through the national environmental monitoring programs of the Member States (MSs). The legal basis is the Euratom Treaty, Chapter III Health and Safety, Articles 35 and 36, which clarifies that MSs shall periodically communicate to the EC information on environmental radioactivity levels. By collecting and validating this information in the REMdb, JRC supports the DG for Energy in its responsibilities in returning qualified information to the MSs (competent authorities and general public) on the levels of radioactive contamination of the various compartments of the environment (air, water, soil) on the European Union scale. The REMdb accepts data on radionuclide concentrations from EU MSs in both environmental samples and foodstuffs from 1984 onwards. To date, the total number of data records stored in REMdb exceeds five million, in this way providing the scientific community with a valuable archive of environmental radioactivity topics in Europe. Records stored in the REMDdb are publicly accessible until 2006 through an unrestricted repository ("REM data bank – Years 1984–2006" http://doi.org/10.2905/jrc-10117-10024). Access to data from 2007 onwards is granted only after explicit request, until the corresponding monitoring report is published. Each data record contains information describing the sampling circumstances (sampling type, begin-end time), measurement conditions (value, nuclide, apparatus, etc.), location and date of sampling and original data reference. In this paper the scope, features and extension of the REMdb are described in detail.

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