University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Journals & Proceedings
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Integrating Remote Sensing and Machine Learning for Landslide Prediction and Early Detection
No full textLandslides are the second largest natural hazard in Sri Lanka, causing a major impact after floods. The main focus of the study is to identify how remote sensing technologies (RSTs) and machine learning (ML) have enhanced landslide detection accuracy over the past decades. Information was collected on RSTs and ML methods for landslide prediction and their integration to achieve the objective of the study. This review examined articles from Google Scholar and Science Direct, assessing RST and ML advancements in landslide prediction from 2013 to 2023. The search strings included “landslide” and “Remote Sensing” OR “Machine Learning” with at least two of these search terms appearing in the title, Keywords, or abstract of English language documents related to landslide prediction. Only Full-text, open-access articles were considered, and after removing duplicates, 25 unique research communications were selected. This analysis examines how RSTS and ML can enhance landslide prediction accuracy and reduce associated risks. RSTs are primarily classified into satellite-based RTS and ground-based sensors. Satellite-based RSTs provide a broad view of landslides across different spatial and temporal scales, aiding in detecting and measuring displacement over large areas. Ground-based sensors, including interferometric radar, dapple radar and lidar allow real-time monitoring of the small area with high accuracy. These capabilities contribute to developing an effective early warning system. ML models such as support vector machines (SVM), binomial generalized additive models, cross-validation models, convolutional neural networks, and small sample-based learning models help identify, quantify, and effectively predict landslide-prone areas with greater accuracy. Integrating remote sensing technologies with machine learning models significantly enhances the high-resolution landslide vulnerable maps. This integration allows the application of advanced algorithms such as SVM for more accurate risk assessment and improves the automation and precision of early detection of landslides. Consequently, all stakeholders are in a position to make proactive decisions because they are aware of risks and their influence on disasters.
Keywords: Early warning system, Ground-based sensors, Machine learning, Remote Sensing Technologies, Risk sssessment
 
Ethnobotanical Survey in Pigeon Island National Park, Trincomalee
No full textThe Pigeon Island National Park is one of the three marine national parks of Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town in Eastern Province, encompassing a total area of 471.429 hectares. The island's name derives from the rock pigeon which has colonized it. Pigeon Island was designated as a sanctuary in 1963. In 2003 it was re-designated as a national park, making it the 17th such park in Sri Lanka. Physical features are, Pigeon Island consists of two islands; large pigeon island and small pigeon island. The large pigeon island is fringed by a coral reef, and is about 200 m long and 100 m wide. Its highest point is 44.8 m above mean sea level. The small pigeon island is surrounded by rocky islets. The national park is situated within the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The mean annual temperature is around 27.0 °C (80.6 °F). The annual rainfall ranges between 1,000–1,700 millimetres (39–67 in) while most of the rain is received during the North-eastern monsoon season from October to March. Identified flora as 67 plants and Euphorbiaceous family members were higher than other families. Shrubs had higher distributions than other plant’s taxonomy. Some plants such as, Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis), Beriya (Lumnitzera racemosa), Screw pine (Pandanus tectorius), Mahakadol (Rhizophora mucronata), Kaduru (Cerbera manghas), Thelai (Excoecaria agallocha), Kohomba (Azadirachta indica), Geiger tree (Cordia sebestena) trees and shrubs, climbers, creepers and cactus. This survey concluded to preserve natural resources for the next generation.
Keywords: Pigeon Island National Park, Flora, Ethnobotany, Trincomalee
Spatial Patterns in Groundwater Availability and Selected Physical Properties in an Urban Area
No full textGroundwater is a vital resource for Sri Lanka, serving as a primary source of water for households, agriculture, and industries. This study aimed to assess changes in groundwater availability and quality in Pelenwatta North and East GNDs, Sri Lanka. Employing a grid-based systematic sampling approach, groundwater levels and water samples were collected during both wet and dry seasons. Spatial analysis techniques, including contour analysis and interpolation, were utilized to identify patterns in groundwater levels and water quality parameters using ArcGIS software. The study revealed that groundwater levels were highest in the western part and lowest in the upper middle portion, with built-up areas exhibiting the least availability due to impermeable surfaces hindering recharge. The average water level declined significantly from 7.8 m in the wet season to 5 m in the dry season, with an overall average decline of 2.76 m. A positive correlation between elevation and groundwater depletion indicated that higher elevations experienced greater water level declines. Furthermore, the study found that groundwater in the entire area was acidic, with mean pH values of 5.3 and 5.2 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. High electrical conductivity (EC) levels were observed in the southeast. Additionally, the presence of total coliform and E. coli bacteria was detected in most water samples. These findings offer crucial insights for policymakers and water resource managers. By comprehending the spatial and temporal variations in groundwater availability and quality, informed decisions can be made to promote sustainable water use, safeguard water resources, and ensure long-term water security in urban areas.
Keywords: Groundwater, Groundwater availability, Groundwater quality, Spatial analysis, Interpolatio
Development of Bacillus spp. Consortia as Phosphate-Solubilizing Biofertilizers to Enhance Plant Growth: A Sustainable Agricultural Approach
No full textThe global population continues to rise steadily, making it increasingly challenging to feed the growing number of people without a substantial increase in agricultural production. The concept of biofertilizers has emerged as an innovative solution to enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity. This study aims to isolate and characterize phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and assess their effects on plant growth promotion as a sustainable approach. Compost soil was collected from the Karadiyana open dump site (6°48′51.8′′ N, 79°54′17.0′′ E) to isolate PSB strains. Pikovskaya’s Agar (PKV) were used to isolate PSB strains and identified through biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Quantitative phosphate solubilization was measured by determining the production of available phosphorus in Pikovskaya broth medium supplemented with 0.5% tricalcium phosphate, while qualitative phosphate solubilization was assessed by calculating the Phosphate Solubilization Index (PSI) for each isolate. PSB-incorporated consortia were prepared by mixing isolated PSB strains, maintaining a concentration of 108 CFU/mL with absorbance values ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 at 595 nm. The effects of these consortia on plant growth were evaluated through pot experiments using salad leaves and radish plants, with growth parameters including shoot length, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, seed germination time, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf width, and leaf length measured. The isolated strains were identified as belonging to the genus Bacillus, with Bacillus siamensis strain KCTC 13613 showing the highest production of available phosphorus (171.2±0.3 µg/mL) on the fourth day of incubation. Pots inoculated with PSB consortia demonstrated a significant increase in all measured growth parameters for both salad leaves and radish compared to the control (p<0.05). These findings reveal the potential of Bacillus spp. as bio-inoculants to promote sustainable agriculture by enhancing phosphorus availability and plant growth.
Keywords: Bacillus spp, Biofertilizers, Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, Plant growth promotion, Sustainable agricultur
Opportunities and Challenges of Pescatourism: Insights from Small-Scale Fishers in Rekawa, Southern Sri Lanka
No full textPescatourism is an emerging concept within the blue economy in which tourism merges with fisheries. Usually, it consists of a voyage on a fishing vessel where artisanal fishers welcome tourists onboard and a visit to a fishing village to experience the way of life of an artisanal fishing community. However, this sustainable tourism approach is still new to Sri Lanka and Pescatourism initiatives have not yet been implemented. The potential of introducing Pescatourism in Sri Lanka is largely unknown. To fill this research gap to a certain extent, we studied the perceptions of small-scale fishers in Rekawa about their intention to engage in Pescatourism. Further, we assessed the opportunities and challenges of Pescatourism in achieving sustainable development. A convenience sample of 150 small-scale fishers was selected from Rekawa, Southern Sri Lanka. Participants were briefed on the concept of Pescatourism before the data collection, due to its novelty in Sri Lanka. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a pre-tested structured questionnaire to collect data from the fishers from November 2023 to January 2024. Data analysis consisted of Descriptive Statistics, Binary Logistic Regression, and Friedman Test. The majority (91.3%) expressed their willingness to consider participating in Pescatourism. Most of the fishers recognized Pescatourism as an opportunity to increase their income (99.3%), improving social recognition for their profession (84%), and a way of fishers’ women empowerment (58.8%). Key challenges identified by the fishers included lack of infrastructure facilities (63.3%), tourists’ safety concerns (75.4%), and communication barriers (79.2%). The results of the Binary Logistic Regression revealed that Rekawa fishers who were intended to engage in Pescatourism were significantly more likely to invest money in Pescatourism enterprise, had faith in the Pescatourism that would improve the quality of life in their fishing community, and believed that Pescatourism would allow them to sustainable use of their natural resources. According to the Friedman Test, there was a significant difference among three quality dimensions in Pescatourism; quality of the land-based excursions, quality of the Pescatourism service provider, and quality of the food offering during the Pescatourism journey (x²=105.05, df=2, p<0.05). Approximately, half of the respondents would prefer to receive a Pescatourism operating license through their fisheries cooperatives. In conclusion, this case study offers some insights to decision-makers in the tourism sector by highlighting the potential of introducing Pescatourism initiatives in southern Sri Lanka addressing the key challenges identified.
Keywords: Blue economy, Sustainable tourism, Pescatourism initiatives, Small-scale fishers, Women empowermen
NEXUS OF SUSTAINABILITY, INNOVATION AND EXPORT PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF BOI INDUSTRIAL EXPORTING FIRMS IN SRI LANKA
Get PDFIncreasingly, market mechanism is employed in promoting sustainable development in most of the contexts, including in international trade. Main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between sustainability practices, innovation, and export performance among Sri Lankan industrial exporters operating in Export Processing Zones (EPZ). Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 80 industrial exporters in four key EPZ zones through structured interviews with a questionnaire while data were analyzed using descriptive and regression techniques. The results revealed a significantly positive relationship between overall sustainability and export performance as well as innovation, with economic sustainability practices demonstrating the most significant influence among each dimension of the sustainability to boost export performance while social sustainability practices enhance innovation at firm level. Findings provide valuable insights for policy makers as well as exporters to boost export performance by understanding the relationship among sustainability, innovation and export performance at firm level
Implementation of Lean Principles in Building Construction Industry, Sri Lanka
Get PDFLean construction has been introduced into the Sri Lankan construction industry to address critical challenges, including waste management and high construction costs due to high material costs and lack of skilled labor. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which lean construction is implemented in the Sri Lankan building construction industry. This paper presents the findings of a study that investigated the state of lean construction implementation in the Sri Lankan building construction industry using quantitative and qualitative research methods. A questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain the opinions of construction professionals on the types of tools and techniques that support the implementation of lean construction, stages of application of lean methods, and benefits of lean construction to the projects. In addition, interviews were carried out to obtain expert views on the implementation of lean construction, including challenges encountered in the Sri Lankan building construction industry. Primary data collected include 51 completed questionnaires and five expert interviews with building construction industry professionals using a simple random sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and the chi-square goodness of fit test. The investigation revealed that the 5S concept is the most used lean tool in the industry. It was also revealed that many of the lean methods are applied during the construction stage knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. It is important to note that the results suggest that the reduction of waste is the dominant benefit that the building construction industry receives due to the adaptation of lean construction techniques in Sri Lanka. Lack of technical knowledge, employee resistance to adapting to lean culture, and lack of cooperation were identified as the main challenges. Overall, this study reveals moderate awareness among Sri Lankan construction industry professionals of lean construction and the findings will help the Sri Lankan construction industry to establish strategies for implementing lean construction in line with their project goals to achieve higher productivity
Reducing Wake in Formula One Cars Using Biomimicry
Get PDFThis research hopes to find a biomimetic resolution to the wake created in Formula One cars. The turbulent wake created by the Formula One cars in its rear ends have caused a significant satisfaction loss in the sport, due to the lack of overtaking caused by performance loss in a car trailing behind another. Previous methods have been implemented to reduce this effect; however, they show no significant improvement. Biomimetics is an ever-growing field, its multidisciplinary characteristic allows us to combine biologically affirmed designs on our creations to solve problems. The influence of humpback whale tubercles and harbour seal vibrissae were implemented in the rear wings due to their ability to regulate the turbulent air. Numerical simulations were conducted at various speeds for each design including the base model rear wing. The results attained from each design were compared at varying velocities. The biomimetically enhanced models showed an improvement in the wake region when considering parameters like Turbulent Kinetic Energy and Turbulence Intensity. The wake reduction peaked at average Formula One track speeds for each biomimetic alteration. Overall, the study yielded positive results when applyingbiomimetics. However, the effect of biomimetic enhancements on trailing cars needs to be studied
Numerical Simulations of Drug Dynamics in Blood Using Compartment Modelling
Get PDFThe study of pharmacokinetics is crucial in the modern world due to the need for advanced drugs to improve healthcare and combat diseases. To represent drug behavior within a patient’s body, mathematical modelling can be used and the derived system can be easily solved using numerical techniques, instead of relying solely on traditional clinical trials. This paper presents how various parameters affect drug behavior in the human body through compartment modelling which is a technique commonly used in pharmacokinetic modelling. The study used exact solution techniques like variable separation, eigenvalue method and integration factor method to solve model equations in each compartment. Since the complexity of the models can lead to challenging scenarios, this paper investigates the applicability and importance of using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta (RK4) method for pharmacokinetic modeling asa numerical solving method. Additionally, the study will present how drug dynamics relate to the route of administration and how the maximum concentration varies as per the slight changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters used within the model under the assumptions. The findings of this study will contribute to the field of clinical science and biomedical engineering by expediting the drug development process and improving the quality of drugs
Improving Material Handling System Performance of a Toy Manufacturer Using Simulation
Get PDFThis paper presents a discrete event simulation- based analysis to optimize trolley management at a leading toy manufacturer in South Asia. We address one of the many challenges faced by the toy industry, i.e., efficiently managing material handling equipment (trolleys). The paper explores an optimization approach for trolley management through the identification of critical items, clustering of sub-articles, and standardization of stacking methods. We develop simulation models to evaluate the performance of these optimized trolley management strategies. Comparison of the proposed methods with current strategies show that significant improvements can be realized in production efficiency and trolley utilization, reducing congestion and enhancing overall operational performance. The findings underscore the importance of simulation-based approaches in refining material handling processes and achieving long-term sustainability in manufacturing operations