The small strain stiffness from bender elements tests for clayey soils

The shear modulus of soils at small strain (G0) is one of the input parameters in a finite element analysis with the hardening soil model with small strain stiffness, required in the advanced numerical analyses of geotechnical engineering problems. The small strain stiffness can be determined based on the seismic wave velocities measured in the laboratory and field tests, but the interpretation of test results is still under discussion because of many different factors affecting the measurements of the wave travel time. The recommendations and proposed solutions found in the literature are helpful as a guide, but ought to be adopted with a certain measure of care and caution on a case-by-case basis. The equipment, procedures, tests results and interpretation analyses of bender elements (BE) tests performed on natural overconsolidated cohesive soils are presented.

Priority landscapes in Brudzeń Landscape Park conservation plan

The implementation of the European Landscape Convention in Poland requires the identification and landscape assessment in the form of a landscape audit made for each region (voivodeship), as enshrined in the Act on Spatial Planning and Land Development. The Act assumes that as part of landscape audit within regional parks priority landscapes as well as zones of landscape protection will be indicated. There are methodical tools prepared by the Ministry of the Environment to realize both main landscape audit elements – the instruction and the recommendations. Currently (at the end of 2018) no region of the audit is yet to be found, and the newly adopted conservation plans for regional parks enforce, in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act reference to both priority landscapes and zones. This article presents testing of the methodology proposed by the Ministry of the Environment for determining priority landscapes (the instruction) and landscape protection zones (the recommendations). The reference field was the conservation plan for Brudzeń Landscape Park (BLP) located in the Masovian Voivodeship. An attempt to implement particularly the Instructions and identify priority landscapes in the BLP conservation plan proved to be not fully possible. The analyzes carried out in the BLP call for the opinion that apart from the current landscape, it is necessary to take into account other than land use features of the environment that determine the specificity of the landscape – mainly terrain, additionally the catalog of current types of landscapes should be open. Tools prepared by the Ministry of the Environment – still need to be refined.

Analysis of the use of selected reservoirs in the Wielkopolska province

The paper presents characteristics of six selected retention reservoirs located in the Wielkopolskie province, i.e. the Radzyny and Przebędowo reservoirs located near the city of Poznań, the Miedzichowo reservoir situated at the western border of the province, as well as the Stare Miasto and Jutrosin and Pakosław reservoirs, situated at the eastern and southern parts of the province, respectively. The paper also presents results of studies concerning water quality parameters in the selected reservoir of Przebędowo (at the inflow, within the reservoir and at the outflow) for the example year of 2016. The greatest water area of approx. 110 ha and at the same time the greatest capacity (2.88 million m3) at normal level damming (NLD) was found for the Radzyny reservoir on the Sama river, constructed in 2000, whereas the smallest water area (5.3 ha) and the smallest capacity (0.1 million m3) at NLD were recorded for the Miedzichowo reservoir, which was constructed in 2013. Apart from the positive aspects related to the operation of water storage reservoirs we frequently observe problems with their operation and use. In the winter periods they are mainly connected with the so-called icing, which has a negative and often destructive effect both on the condition of reservoir dams and on their banks. In turn, in the summer months a common problem in the operation of reservoirs results from obstruction from vegetation accumulated on the damming structures, which frequently reaches the dams particularly in periods characterised by high daily precipitation totals. Another common problem in terms of the operation of retention reservoirs is also related with the process of their eutrophication, connected with the influx of biogens. Analyses of selected water quality indexes for the Przebędowo reservoir showed, particularly in relation to nitrates and nitrites, their higher values at the inflow to the reservoir, indicating a considerable effect of land use in adjacent areas primarily in terms of fertilisation and the resulting runoff of biogens to the watercourse supplying the reservoir.

Preliminary studies on the use of Fenton reagent to reduce pollution from wastewater from the production of household chemicals

Industrial sewage from the production of household chemicals contain large amounts of impurities in the form of ionic and non-ionic surfactants, detergents, active extenders, enzymes. The mixture of these components means that the reduction of pollutants from this type of waste-water is very burdensome. The article presents the results of preliminary laboratory tests of the possibility of using Fenton reaction in the reduction of pollution in wastewater from the household chemistry industry. The reduction of impurities was determined by the concentration of COD. The tests were carried out on samples of wastewater taken from an industrial wastewater treatment plant from the production of household chemistry. A pollution reduction of 24.7–32.3% was achieved. On the basis of the preliminary tests carried out, the need to better match the doses of reagents to carry out pollution reduction was determined. Despite obtaining values exceeding the limit values for introducing this type of sewage into the sewage system and into the environment, the conducted tests can be considered as prognostic. To compare the process carried out on industrial waste-water, a reduction of impurities was carried out using the Fenton reagent in the standard phenol solution.

Evaluation of correlation between parameters from CPTU and DMT tests and soil type behavior chart

This paper presents the correlation of soil parameters obtained from the dilatometer of the Marchetti (DMT) and the cone penetration tests (CPT). The data for the development of these correlations come from four experimental sites of the Department of Geotechnical Engineering of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW: test embankment in Antoniny, and the Koszyce and Nielisz water dams, Stegna test site, WULS-SGGW Campus. Additionally, the relationship between the soil behavior type classification index (Ic) from the Cone Penetration Test (CPT) and the material index (I D) from the dilatometer test (DMT) based on the Robertson method, modified in this paper, is presented. Finally, a new soil behavior type classification chart was presented, allowing to determine not only the type and condition of the soil, but also the stress history (OCR).

Estimation of lowland river cross-section changes for different soils

This paper involves a comparative analysis of cross-sectional changes at selected reaches of a lowland river, flowing through the areas of mineral and organic soils. The comparisons were made at the background of design and execution assumptions from the period 1967–1971. Main processes, responsible for the observed changes of riverbeds in mineral soils (silting, conservation works) and organic soils (subsidence, disappearance of the peat deposit), were identified. In case of organic soils, the decrease of cross-sectional area by approximately from 30 to 60% was estimated in comparison to the original project assumptions, and the subsidence of river banks reached even 0.5 m in relation to the level determined in 1967. In the area of mineral soils, more considerable variability of cross-sectional area was noted along with minor changes of river banks elevation, that resulted most likely from the performed maintenance works.

Natural evaluation of landscape in urban area comprising Bielański Forest nature reserve and surroundings, Warsaw, Poland. Directions for landscape protection and planning

Directions for landscape protection and planning. Problems of maintaining remnants of natural ecosystems in urbanized areas, planning of systems of natural areas in cities and ways of natural evaluation for these purposes, in order to improve environmental conditions for inhabitants, are very current. The aim of the paper is the presentation of methodical approach to natural evaluation of landscape and formulating recommended guidelines for landscape protection and planning in the urban study area including the Bielański Forest nature reserve and its surroundings. The presented method of landscape evaluation consists on: division of the study area into spatial-landscape units characterized with relatively similar type of landscape, analyses in units’ areas and external preconditions, selection of suitable criteria of natural evaluation determining the way of estimation – the range of points awarded in each criterion (points bonitation) and interpretation of results. The guidelines for landscape protection and planning have been formulated, among others maintaining and improving of three external ecological corridors.

Environmental effects of temperature rise and long periods without precipitation on soil processes – case study for southern Slovakia

Environmental effects of temperature rise and long periods without precipitation on soil processes - case study for southern Slovakia. The general purpose of the article is to evaluate the environmental effects of temperature rise and long periods without precipitation on soil processes in southern Slovakia. Observed climate change (increase in average temperature) can cause changes in the fertility of the soil, especially in the direction of faster mineralization of organic matter. As an example, very accurate measurements of air temperature, rainfall and water content in the soil profile to a depth of 1 m are used. The more specific objective of the study was to evaluate the formation of soil water retention resources under high temperature conditions and over 30 days without rainfall. Based on the measured values, they were created graphs for extended period of time without precipitation. The graph shows the average daily soil moisture in each layer, which is measured at the hydrological network of stations in operation by Centre of Excellence for Integrated River Basin Management at SUA in Nitra. The final evaluation for the stations Žirany and Dolné Naštice, soil water content is showing the vulnerability of crops due to changes in water content, especially in layers from 0.3 to 0.5 m.

Flow characteristics of intermittent rivers in Slovakia

Flow characteristics of intermittent rivers in Slovakia. Intermittent rivers are rivers that cease to fl ow, i.e. temporary, ephemeral, seasonal, and episodic rivers. Analysis of hydrological regime of such rivers is pivotal in assessment of water resources because changes in fl ow characteristics of such rivers may affect neighboring catchments or the entire region through changes in water supply reservoirs such as lakes, wetlands and mosses. Recently, an increasing number of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) and an elongation of the zero- -fl ow events has been observed in Europe due to climatic changes and anthropogenic influence. Intermittent rives in Slovakia were studied in the paper using statistical methods. The characteristics of the zero-fl ow period, of duration of the longest annual zero-fl ow event and of timing of such events were derived. The circular statistics were helpful in recognition of the dates of occurrence of such events. The comparative analysis between catchments was performed. The variability in precipitation and evapotranspiration and the increasing temperature were identified as the possible drivers of the fl ow intermittence in these catchments. The research was performed within the COST Action SMIRES (Science and Management of Intermittent Rivers & Ephemeral Streams).

Landscape valuation for planning ecotourism trails – case study

Landscape valuation for planning ecotourism trails - case study. Ecotourism is a type of tourism strictly connected with natural and cultural landscape values. This kind of idea of “green travel” is perfect option for people who want to relax and sightseeing rural municipalities. It is really important to design eco-tourism trails, which are very usefulness for tourists in this area. The paper is presented natural and cultural values of Piaseczno municipality. It was done landscape valorization, which are included natural and cultural elements of this area. The purpose was to distinguished the areas with the high natural and cultural landscape values for eco-tourism trail design. It was used bonitation points to assessment in scale from 1 point to 5 points. The results were presented on maps, including areas with high, medium, low and very low landscape values. It was distinguished areas with minimum 50% of the maximum number of points were considered attractive for design eco-tourism trails.