scholarly journals Groundwater fauna in an urban area – natural or affected?

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 3053-3070
Author(s):  
Fabien Koch ◽  
Kathrin Menberg ◽  
Svenja Schweikert ◽  
Cornelia Spengler ◽  
Hans Jürgen Hahn ◽  
...  

Abstract. In Germany, 70 % of the drinking water demand is met by groundwater, for which the quality is the product of multiple physical–chemical and biological processes. As healthy groundwater ecosystems help to provide clean drinking water, it is necessary to assess their ecological conditions. This is particularly true for densely populated urban areas, where faunistic groundwater investigations are still scarce. The aim of this study is, therefore, to provide a first assessment of the groundwater fauna in an urban area. Thus, we examine the ecological status of an anthropogenically influenced aquifer by analysing fauna in 39 groundwater monitoring wells in the city of Karlsruhe (Germany). For classification, we apply the groundwater ecosystem status index (GESI), in which a threshold of more than 70 % of crustaceans and less than 20 % of oligochaetes serves as an indication for very good and good ecological conditions. Our study reveals that only 35 % of the wells in the residential, commercial and industrial areas and 50 % of wells in the forested area fulfil these criteria. However, the study did not find clear spatial patterns with respect to land use and other anthropogenic impacts, in particular with respect to groundwater temperature. Nevertheless, there are noticeable differences in the spatial distribution of species in combination with abiotic groundwater characteristics in groundwater of the different areas of the city, which indicate that a more comprehensive assessment is required to evaluate the groundwater ecological status in more detail. In particular, more indicators, such as groundwater temperature, indicator species, delineation of site-specific characteristics and natural reference conditions should be considered.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Koch ◽  
Kathrin Menberg ◽  
Svenja Schweikert ◽  
Cornelia Spengler ◽  
Hans Jürgen Hahn ◽  
...  

Abstract. In Germany 70 % of the drinking water demand is met by groundwater, whose quality is the product of manifold physical-chemical and biological cleaning processes. As healthy groundwater ecosystems help to provide clean drinking water, it is necessary to assess the ecological conditions of these ecosystems. This is particularly true for densely populated, urban areas, where faunistic groundwater investigations are still scare. The aim of this study is therefore to provide a first-tier assessment of the groundwater fauna in an urban area. Thus, we assess the ecological condition of an anthropogenically influenced aquifer by analysing the groundwater fauna in 39 groundwater monitoring wells in Karlsruhe (Germany) and a nearby forest land. For classification we apply the scheme from the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), in which a threshold of more than 70 % of Crustaceans and of less than 20 % of Oligochaetes serves as an indication for good ecological conditions. In our study 35 % of the wells in the urban area fulfil these criteria, and even in the pristine forest land only 50 % of the wells indicate fine ecological conditions. While the assessment reveals that ecological conditions in the studied urban area are predominantly not in a good ecological state, there is no clear spatial pattern with respect to land use and anthropogenic impacts. However, there are noticeable differences in the spatial distribution of species and abiotic groundwater characteristics between wells in forest land and the urban area, which indicates that more comprehensive assessment methods are required to fully capture the different effects on groundwater fauna.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorden J. S. Lefler

This thesis discusses a method of analysing the input of interventions in a building's site design, all of which affect the heat island effect, bio-diversity and hydrology of urban areas. Existing standards from Toronto, Vancouver and Berlin have been researched and analysed. This paper presents an evolution of a method called biotope area factor used in Berlin, Germany. A synthesis of the approach of all three systems was considered and distilled into the key points which were then incorporated into the proposed method. In addition to the impact of an individual building, it also includes the impact from the adjacent street area. The final components of this thesis are the application of the method developed to an urban area in the city of Toronto and results showing the impacts on architectural design from site rating systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Spina ◽  
Emiliano Tramontana

Abstract The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas is one of the main factors that reduce the liveability of cities. In recent years, to contrast urban sprawl, several nations have promoted policies aimed at developing urban green spaces. The importance of green oases within cities had already been highlighted, in 1977, by the architect Christopher Alexander who had developed a series of patterns including ‘City Country Fingers’ claiming that city development should consider the prolongation of country land in to the urban area. In several cities, especially in Japan, it is possible to recognize the imprint of urban development based on country fingers. This term refers to extensive urban intersections of agricultural land or wooded hills which, from the peripheral areas, penetrate the city. Inside them, there are urban windows, called city fingers, whose development direction is opposite to those of the country fingers. To recognize and analyze, in an automated way, these particular structures, a Python-based application was created. Starting from the original high-resolution image of Google Earth, a complete analysis was performed, labeling and delimiting urban and vegetational areas and extrapolating the main geometric parameters of the country and city fingers. The finalization of the results obtained was carried out through a classification model whose criteria were based on Alexander’s pattern. Thanks to this classification scheme, the distinction between Active Green Areas (country fingers) and Passive Green Areas (gardens and public parks) have been revealed for the analyzed cities. The tests performed showed almost ideal conditions for the city of Kamakura and a limited match for the urban area of Acireale. The proposed method is suitable for fields of application that require a qualitative and quantitative determination of the vegetation cover present within the city, an essential condition for correct territorial planning.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia Siouti ◽  
Ksakousti Skyllakou ◽  
Ioannis Kioutsioukis ◽  
Giancarlo Ciarelli ◽  
Spyros N. Pandis

<p>Cooking operations can be an important fine PM source for urban areas. Cooking emissions are a source of pollution that has been often ignored and are not included or are seriously underestimated in urban emission inventories. However, several field studies in cities all over Europe suggest that cooking organic aerosol (COA) can be an important component of the total organic PM. In this study we propose and evaluate a methodology for the simulation of the COA concentration and its variability in space and time in an urban area. The city of Patras, the third biggest in Greece is used for this first application for a typical late summer period. The spatial distribution of COA emissions is based on the exact location of restaurants and grills, while the emissions on the meat consumption in Greece. We estimated COA emissions of 150 kg d<sup>-1</sup> that corresponds to 0.6 g d<sup>-1</sup> per person. The temporal distribution of COA was based on the known cooking times and the results of the past field studies in the area. Half of the daily COA is emitted during dinner time (21:00-0:00 LT), while approximately 25% during lunch time (13:00-16:00 LT). The COA is simulated using the Volatility Basis Set with a volatility distribution measured in the laboratory and is treated as semivolatile and reactive. The maximum average COA concentration during the simulation period is predicted to be 1.3 μg m<sup>-3</sup> in a mainly pedestrian area with a high density of restaurants. Peak hourly COA concentrations in this area exceed 10 μg m<sup>-3</sup> during several nights. The local production of secondary COA is predicted to be slow and it represents just a few percent of the total COA.</p><p> </p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 01
Author(s):  
G. Martins ◽  
R. L. S. Ferraz ◽  
J. L. Batista ◽  
M. A. Barbosa

<p>Em decorrência de atividades antrópicas exploratórias, tem ocorrido aumento na supressão de espécies arbóreas, refletindo na biodiversidade e equilíbrio dos ecossistemas, reduzindo a população de espécies de abelhas.<strong> </strong>Objetivou-se com este trabalho, fazer um levantamento da ocorrência de árvores, nidificações e espécies de abelhas com intuito de incentivar o plantio de espécimes, principalmente nativos, na área urbana, para que ocorra uma maior proliferação das abelhas indígenas sem ferrão. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo na Praça Dr. Joaquim Batista na cidade de Jaboticabal, SP. Através de consultas em literatura especializada, identificou-se o número de espécies arbóreas e abelhas sem ferrão, o número e altura média de nidificações, além da coleta de sementes para produção de mudas. Foram identificadas 27 espécies de árvores nativas, 14 exóticas, cinco de abelhas sem ferrão, 37 nidificações, com altura média geral de 2,3 m, além da produção de 20 mudas nativas. A elevada ocorrência de nidificações em plantas nativas e a presença de sementes, demonstram a adaptabilidade destes polinizadores, além de subsidiar a viabilidade da proposta de incentivar o plantio de espécimes, principalmente nativas em área urbana para a proliferação das abelhas indígenas sem ferrão. Estudos complementares podem ser realizados visando educação ambiental nestes locais.</p><p align="center"><strong>Encouraging the planting of native trees in the urban area for proliferation of stingless bees</strong></p><p>As a result of exploratory human activities, there has been an increase in the suppression of tree species, reflecting on biodiversity and ecosystem balance, reducing the population of bee species. The objective of this work, to survey the occurrence of trees, Nest establishment and bee species in order to encourage the planting of species, mostly native, in urban areas, so that there is a higher proliferation of indigenous stingless bees. Therefore, we carried out a study in Dr. Joaquim Batista Square in the city of Jaboticabal, SP. Through consultations in the literature, we identified the number of tree species and stingless bees, the average number and height of Nest establishment, besides the collection of seeds for seedlings. They identified 27 species of native trees, 14 exotic, five of stingless bees, 37 Nest establishment, with overall average height of 2.3 m, in addition to producing 20 native seedlings. The high occurrence of Nest establishment of native plants and the presence of seeds demonstrate the adaptability of these pollinators, in addition to supporting the viability of the proposal to encourage the planting of specimens, especially in urban areas native to the proliferation of indigenous stingless bees. Additional studies can be conducted to environmental education in these places.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rina Putri Noer Fadilah ◽  
Azkya Patria Nawawi ◽  
Andi Supriatna ◽  
Sri Sarwendah ◽  
Ratih Widyasari

Introduction: The prevalence of dental caries among children has increased in the past decades. Dental caries has a multifactorial aetiology, including host (saliva and teeth), microbiology (plaque), substrate (diet), and time. The role of fermentable carbohydrates intake as a risk factor in the initiation and progression of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between dental caries and carbohydrates intake among preschool-aged children in rural and urban areas of the city of Cimahi, Indonesia. Methods: The method used was an analytical cross-sectional study with pathfinder survey based on the WHO basic methods of oral health surveys. The data were collected through intraoral examination, and nutritional status measurement was done by using food frequency questionnaire. Statistical analysis used was the chi-square test. Results: From the study towards 100 preschool children resulted the prevalence of dental caries in rural and urban area respectively was 96 and 92%. The average value of deft index in urban area was 8.46 (95% CI:7.00-9.91) and was 7.98 (95% CI:6.50-9.45) in rural area. The average value of sucrose intake frequency in urban area was 237.14 (95% CI:204.95-269.32), whilst in rural area was 177.54 (95% CI:155.66-199.41). Conclusion: There was a relationship between dental caries and carbohydrates intake among preschool-aged children in the rural and urban area of the city of Cimahi, Indonesia.


ForScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e00594
Author(s):  
Caik Elisio Tonelli Faria ◽  
Alexandre Augusto Barbosa

Problemas e catástrofes geradas por ações da natureza são cíclicos na história de nosso planeta.Um desses problemas, se não o principal e mais recorrente, são as inundações que vêm ocasionando diversos prejuízos tanto para a população quanto para os municípios em geral. Com o município de Itajubá-MG não é diferente. Principalmente por ter se desenvolvido às margens do rio Sapucaí, tem passado por problemas com inundações desde a sua fundação em 1819. No ano 2000, foi registrada uma das suas maiores inundações, que afetou 80% da sua população urbana. Atualmente, devido aos avanços da tecnologia, problemas referentes às inundações podem ser diagnosticados e evitados, utilizando-se programas computacionais, como Autocad e Global Mapper, com os quais, dentro deste trabalho, pôde-se se ter a real noção das áreas dentro do município em estudo susceptíveis a enchentes e inundações. Como principal resultado, observou-se uma mancha de inundação ocupando 65% da área urbana total do município, o que pode servir como base para realizar obras de prevenção e permitir um avanço municipal controlado. A partir desse levantamento pode-se ter a representação da fragilidade da cidade quanto a problemas ambientais decorrentes das chuvas torrenciais. Percebe-se a necessidade de um maior e melhor planejamento do crescimento urbano, por parte dos órgãos regulamentadores, adotando-se estratégias para o desenvolvimento eficiente e sustentável da região. Palavras-chave: Inundações. Planejamento. Problemas.   Flood spots in municipality of Itajubá-mg Abstract Problems and disasters generated by nature actions are cyclical in the history of our planet. One of these problems , maybe the major and most frequent, are the flooding which has been causing many losses for both the population and the municipalities in general. In the city of Itajubá -MG it is not different. Mainly because the city is located in the banks of the Sapucai river, it has experienced problems with flooding since its foundation in 1819. In 2000, the city faced one of its biggest floods, which affected 80% of its urban population. Currently, due to advances in technology, problems related to flooding can be diagnosed and prevented by using computer programs such as Autocad and Global Mapper, which ones, in this work, allow us to have a good idea about areas in the studied city, that could be potentially affected by floods. As the best result,  one flood spot occupying 65% of the urban area of the city was observed. The information can be used for preventing actions and as a base for a mediated growing. From this results, it is possible to measure how fragile is the city regarding to environmental problems related to storms, which requires that regulatory organizations make a bigger and better growing planning for the urban areas, applying strategies for the efficient and sustainable development in the region. Keywords: Floods. Planning. Problems.


2009 ◽  
pp. 59-78
Author(s):  
Francesco Giovanni Truglia

- This contribution is aimed at builgin a sort of social geography of multicultural cohabitation in the municipality of Rome and identifying ethnic locations based a series of statistical indicators - some of which unpublished - with the use of certain instruments of spatial statistical analysis. The study is articulated on two levels. The first examines the urban areas and offers a horizontal overview of foreigners' spatial distribution. The second takes into consideration units of analysis referred to different administrative divisions (City, Municipality, urban area). This is a vertical analysis that takes into account the specific aspects of a certain urban area compared to the city and municipality of reference.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Duarte Vera ◽  
Julien Vanhulst ◽  
Eduardo Antonio Letelier Araya

PurposeRural drinking water services in Chile are managed by Rural Drinking Water Associations (RDWAs) with a community governance model. However, urban growth and a neoliberal institutional setting tend to favor market-style governance, both in terms of territorial planning and drinking water supply, placing stress on the community governance model of RDWA. The authors seek to understand these processes and identify the position of RDWA actors facing socio-territorial and environmental transformations experienced in peri-urban sectors of the city of Talca (Chile).Design/methodology/approachThe authors used georeferenced data, participant and non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews. With these data, the authors analyzed the positions and discourses of water governance actors in relation to socio-territorial transformations in the peri-urban areas of the city, as well as for tensions between community and market governance.FindingsThe authors identified a growth tendency of RDWA users around the city of Talca due to a sharp drinking water demand increase in peri-urban territories. As such, the authors describe and contrast RWDA managers and governmental regulators' discourses regarding environmental and socio-territorial transformations. In these discourses, the authors found three critical topics: (1) land liberalization blurring urban territory borders; (2) Law #20998, a poorly financed reform which raises the specter of RDWA privatization, jeopardizing historic community drinking water management; and (3) the consequences of declining community commitment to RDWAs.Practical implicationsOne key implication of these findings is the need to modify RDWA pricing policies to deal with new rural inhabitant lifestyles and drinking water demands and to fulfill water basic needs of rural families, avoiding privatization risks. This change could help not only dealing with growing scarcity during global climate change, but could also provide financial resources to face new technical and administrative requirements of SSR Law.Originality/valueThe originality of the study comes from using a framework of governance tensions applied to water governance in peri-urban areas in a neoliberal institutional setting.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Ródenas ◽  
Salvador García-Ayllón ◽  
Antonio Tomás

In spite of the enhancements related to building construction, many regions still present a major level of seismic risk as a consequence of the high vulnerability of the urban configuration of their cities. An improved method to assess the seismic vulnerability of buildings in urban areas is proposed in this contribution in order to advance the management of seismic emergency scenarios. The methodology, mainly based on the cadastral database, allows for a more standardized implementation as a function on the typological, structural, and urban parameters of the buildings, reducing the level of uncertainties linked to these methodologies and giving continuity to the different RISK-UE published works. The generalization of the method to any urban area has also been improved by means of removing the parameters whose calibration is associated with a specific area. The methodology has been put into practice in the urban area of the city of Lorca (SE Spain), in the aftermath of the earthquake of 11 May 2011, due to the availability of well-documented data reported from this seismic event. The proposal, when it is combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, provides valuable information for the planning and management of post-earthquake emergency situations.


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