A state-of-the-Art review of heuristic and metaheuristic optimization techniques for the management of water resources

Water resource management is a complex engineering problem, due to the stochastic nature of inflow, various demands and environmental flow downstream. With the increase in water consumption for domestic use and irrigation, it becomes more challenging. Many more difficulties, such as non-convex, nonlinear, multi-objective, and discontinuous functions, exist in real-life. From the past two decades, heuristic and metaheuristic optimization techniques have played a significant role in managing and providing better performance solutions. The popularity of heuristic and metaheuristic optimization techniques has increased among researchers due to their numerous benefits and possibilities. Researchers are attempting to develop more accurate and efficient models by incorporating novel methods and hybridizing existing ones. This paper's main contribution is to show the state-of-the-art of heuristic and metaheuristic optimization techniques in water resource management. The research provides a comprehensive overview of the various techniques within the context of a thorough evaluation and discussion. As a result, for water resource management problems, this study introduces the most promising evolutionary and swarm intelligence techniques. Hybridization, modifications, and algorithm variants are reported to be the most successful for improving optimization techniques. This survey can be used to aid hydrologists and scientists in deciding the proper optimization techniques.

Water Quality as Affected by Quarry Activities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The study was done in 2018, 2019 and 2020, during which quarry activities effects was determined on water qualities in Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria. The following locations were selected: 0 – 50 m from quarry locations at Ishiagu, Umuoghara and Ngbo were selected with Non quarry location situated 3 km away from each location as control. Collected water samples were analysed for selected physical properties, chemical properties and heavy metal concentrations. The experimental design was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with F-LSD at (p < 0.05). The results obtained were compared with the established standards. Physical parameters studied in the sites within 0 – 50 m from quarry sites were higher than that of control and are within the recommended standards. Similarly, chemical parameters were higher the sites within 0 – 50 m from quarry sites than that of control and are within the standard, except pH in 2018 at Ishiagu and Umuoghara and pH of control in the three years of studied. Lead, cadmium and iron recorded values in sites within 0 – 50 m which were higher than that of control and the recommended standards whereas zinc observed in Ishiagu in 2018, 2019, 2019 were above standard and control. Zinc observed in Umuoghara and Ngbo were within standard but some values are either higher or lower than control. Based on the results water bodies in quarry sites should be subjected to treatment processes before domestic use to avoid ailments associated with water polluted with quarry activities.

Electricity Usage Monitoring Based On Internet of Things

Electricity monitoring systems have long been used in industrial scenarios such as process scheduling and distribution. This monitoring system needs to be developed for domestic use such as in homes and shops. In recent times, the electricity demand has increased in households with the use of different appliances. The advent of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) has made real-time data acquisition and analysis possible. This project is designed to control and monitor household electricity consumption via smartphones using the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module as a communication protocol and the Blynk application as a private server. The used wifi module provides notification through the Blynk application. The system uses an Arduino Mega2560 microcontroller to control all devices in this project. For monitoring the energy usage, a current sensor type Split Core Current Transformer (SCT013) was used. From the experimental results, it is confirmed that the system is capable of monitoring the whole house’s electrical usage easily. With this system in place, end-users are provided with proper awareness and able to plan their home’s electrical consumption pattern effectively.

Acceptability of reclaimed municipal wastewater in cities: evidence from India's National Capital Region

Willingness to reuse reclaimed municipal wastewater was ascertained through a questionnaire completed by 424 respondents, opinions of 17 experts, and interviews with 15 farmers. Information was collected to assess their knowledge of water scarcity and to determine the influence of demographics, correlation to perceived risk, willingness, challenges, and barriers related to the acceptance of reclaimed water. Most respondents were receptive to the idea of using it for purposes other than drinking, and ‘water conservative’ individuals were inclined towards using it even for drinking. Farmers were concerned about its quality and implications for the health of using it for irrigation. Effective communication between authorities and end-users can promote the idea of reusing greywater and reclaimed water for domestic use, and, eventually, for drinking. These findings will be useful in developing an integrated, practical, and strategic framework for treating wastewater for reuse in other cities not only in India but also in other developing countries.

Establishing 3D hydrogeological solid model and database for sustainable groundwater management in the Vietnam Mekong delta

The Vietnam Mekong delta (VMD) is a tide-dominated delta formed by the Mekong river system. The sediments are dominantly fine grained and were deposited in the receiving basin with slight inclination of pre-existing deposits in the East sea and gulf of Thailand. The VMD is homeland to about 18 million people that exploit about 4-6 million m3/day of groundwater mainly for domestic use. In recent years, significant groundwater depletion has been occurring in many parts of the VMD due to excessive pumping. Consequently, the VMD has become increasingly faced with serious land subsidence, salt groundwater intrusion, and contamination. Establishing a 3D hydrogeological solid model and database are sorely needed to achieve sustainable groundwater management, and to serve as a basis for further in-depth analyses to quantify contributions from the above-mentioned hazards to current hydrogeological conditions. Therefore, a 3D hydrogeological solid model and database were built based on more than 1000 well logs available from the VMD. An areal distribution of the Holocene, Pleistocene, Pliocene, and Late Miocene subsurfaces from this 3D hydrogeological solid model and database showed zones of tectonic depression and uplift from Early Miocene - Quaternary. Also, the resulting areal distribution aquitards and aquifers thicknesses gave hints of ground saltwater intrusion and contamination.

Public Lives, Private Water: Female Ready-Made Garment Factory Workers in Peri-Urban Bangladesh

In Dhaka city and its fringe peri-urban sprawls water for domestic use is an increasingly contested commodity. The location of our research, Gazipur district, bordering the growing city of Dhaka, is the heartland of Bangladesh’s Ready Made Garments (RMG) industry, which has spread unplanned in former wetlands and agrarian belts. However, unlike Dhaka, the almost fully industrialized peri-urban areas bordering the city, like many other such areas globally, function in an institutional vacuum. There are no formal institutional arrangements for water supply or sanitation. In the absence of regulations for mining groundwater for industrial use and weakly enforced norms for effluent discharge, the expansion of the RMG industry and other industries has had a disproportionate environmental impact. In this complex and challenging context, we apply a political economy lens to draw attention to the paradoxical situation of the increasingly “public” lives of poor Bangladeshi women working in large numbers in the RMG industry in situations of increasingly “private” and appropriated water sources in this institutionally liminal peri-urban space. Our findings show that poorly paid work for women in Bangladesh’s RMG industry does not translate to women’s empowerment because, among others, a persisting masculinity and the lack of reliable, appropriate and affordable WASH services make women’s domestic water work responsibilities obligatory and onerous.

Characterisation of virus-related red tip disease in pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the tropical fruits that is cultivated in Malaysia for export as well as domestic use. Unfortunately, the production is heavily affected by the red tip disease which was detected in the southern part of Malaysia 3 decades ago. Despite the identification of this disease, causal agent receives less attention from researchers. Nevertheless, symptoms associated with this infection and the mode of transference inside the plantations indicate viral-like disease. RNA extracted from the pineapple infected leaves introduced to Nicotiana tabacum cv. Coker by kneading the plant leaves to extract fresh sap. Yellowish necrosis was detected three weeks after artificial inoculation. The staining of the fresh diseased sample and inoculated Nicotiana tabacum cv. Coker showed the existence of round particles with an average diameter of 94.25nm under the transmission electron microscope. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed proteins bands similar to those of tospovirus at 25, 55 and 128 kDa. Further protein identification and validation suggested for molecular confirmation of the disease causative agent.

Assessment of the Extent and Causes of Fuelwood Collection in the Surrounding Communities of Kasewe Reserved Forest, Sierra Leone

Seven (7) communities living in and around the Kasewe forest reserved were sampled to assess the extent and causes of fuelwood collection from the reserved forest involving 50 individuals in stratified random technique with a view to evaluate the degree and reasons for fuelwood collection from the Kasewe reserved forest. Data obtained indicate a high frequency of fuelwood harvest in the forest throughout the year. The significant factors affecting such decisions were availability and accessibility, ensure fast cooking process, and cost-effective. In addition, fuelwood activities were intensive throughout the year but peaks late dry season. Hence 48 (96%) of respondents stated forest degradation as one of the significant threats posed by fuelwood collectors to the forest. The study indicates that 100% of the collector are unemployed this was mainly the reason why residents of those communities collect fuelwood from the reserved forest. However, this study concluded that fuelwood collectors were selective over the kind of species they harvest, but the preferred species were not replanted. Fuelwood in the study area is not restricted to domestic use as it is also sold to augment local income. The sale of fuelwood is probably the biggest threat to sustainable utilization of fuelwood and the forest. Therefore, this study recommends that alternatives sources of livelihood and energy be created, among other recommendations for resident communities that will reduce the frequency of harvest from the forest.

Biological and economic values of Dipterocarpaceae, the main timber forest product of Indonesia

Dipterocarpaceae is known as a very important tree family both biologically and economically. Its distribution around the world covers the areas of Peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, Maluku to Papua. Dipterocarpaceae family has a high economic value, such as producing wood, balsam, resin, charcoal, fat, fruit, bark, essential oil, and camphor. Its products have very important roles for domestic use and export needs. As representatives of Dipterocarpaceae, the economic value of Shorea Roxb. ex Gaertner f, Dipterocarpus Gaertner f, and Dryobalanops Gaertner f will be discussed. Considering the very important role of Dipterocarpaceae, both biologically and economically, it is necessary to handle it sustainably, through the following actions such as conservation of genetic resources, seed physiology, seed handling, seedling ecology, root symbiosis and nutrition, pest and disease, management of natural forest, and plantation, and also non-timber forest product from Dipterocarpaceae. Dipterocarpaceae dikenal sebagai famili pohon yang sangat penting baik secara biologis maupun ekonomis. Penyebarannya di seluruh dunia meliputi wilayah Semenanjung Malaysia, Filipina, Sumatera, Kalimantan, Jawa, Sulawesi, Maluku hingga Papua. Famili Dipterocarpaceae memiliki nilai ekonomi yang tinggi, seperti menghasilkan kayu, balsam, damar, arang, lemak, buah, kulit kayu, minyak atsiri, dan kapur barus. Produk-produknya memiliki peran yang sangat penting untuk kebutuhan domestik dan ekspor. Sebagai perwakilan Dipterocarpace, nilai ekonomi Shorea Roxb. ex Gaertner f, Dipterocarpus Gaertner f, dan Dryobalanops Gaertner f akan dibahas. Mengingat peranan Dipterocarpaceae yang sangat penting, baik secara biologis maupun ekonomis, maka perlu dilakukan penanganan secara berkelanjutan, melalui tindakan-tindakan seperti konservasi sumber daya genetik, fisiologi benih, penanganan benih, ekologi semai, simbiosis dan nutrisi akar, hama dan penyakit, pengelolaan hutan alam, dan perkebunan, serta hasil hutan bukan kayu dari Dipterocarpaceae.