Bilingual Publishing Co. (BPC): E-Journals
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Transfer Factor of Heavy Metals due to Mining Activities in Plateau State, Nigeria (Health Implications on the Inhabitants)
No full textAccumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils is instigated by industrial and other human activities such as mining, smelting, cement-pollution, energy and fuel production, power transmission, traffic activities, intensive agriculture, sludge dumping and melting operations. Plants received heavy metals from soils through ionic exchange, redox reactions, precipitation-dissolution, and so on. Which implies that the solubility of trace elements based on factors like minerals in the soil (carbonates, oxide, hydroxide etc.), soil organic matter (humic acids, fulvic acids, polysaccharides and organic acids), soil pH, redox potential, content, nutrient balance, other trace elements concentration in soil, physical and mechanical characteristics of soil, soil temperature and humidity, and so on. In this study, the soil-edible plant and soil-water Transfer Factor (TF) for various metals showed that the TF values differed slightly between the locations. On soil-edible plant transfer, the mean TF for different heavy metals in soil-edible plants decreased in the following order: As (0.6) mg/kg > Cd (0.1) mg/kg > Cr (0.06) mg/kg > Pb (0.003) mg/kg > Ni (0.001) mg/kg. The total TF for different location decreases in the following order: Barkin Ladi (1.0) mg/kg > Jos South and Jos East (0.7) mg/kg > Bassa and Mangu (0.6) mg/kg. On soil-water transfer, the mean TF for different heavy metals in soil-edible plants decreased in the following order: Cd (0.001) mg/l > As (0.0007) mg/l > Cr (0.0005) mg/l > Pb (0.0001) mg/l and Ni (0.0001) mg/l. The total TF for different location decreases in the following order: Jos South (0.003) mg/kg > Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Jos East and Mangu (0.002) mg/kg. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the water and edible plants in the study area are good for public consumption, even though, regular checking of heavy metals in the study area is recommended
Assessment of Bholari River Sand for its Geotechnical Characterization as Fine Aggregate
No full textPresent study is aimed at assessment of Bholari river sand for its geotechnical characterization and suitability as fine aggregate which is being quarried in Jamshoro district, Sindh, Pakistan. For this purpose, sand samples (n=11) were collected from quarry sites and main river channel. Physical properties reveal that Bholari sand is mainly coarse to fine in size (0.2 mm-5 mm). Average values of fineness modulus, specific gravity, bulk density and void content of collected samples are 2.58, 2.56, 1659.90 kg/m3 and 35.12% respectively which varied within the corresponding permissible ranges of ACI (American Concrete Institute). Carbonate content of about 57.59% is also in agreement with corresponding range for fine aggregate. Petrographic examination revealed that Bholari River sand mainly comprises of quartz and rock fragments with subordinate limestone fragments. As per classification of Dott (1964), Bholari sand is lithic arenite where quartz (50%) occurs as main mineral followed by rock fragments (30%), feldspars (15%) and other opaque minerals (5%). Texturally, the sediments are angular (77%) to sub-round (33%). All these physical properties lie within the range set by National Highway Authority (NHA) and American Standard of Testing Material (ASTM). It is concluded that Bholari River sand is suitable for use in concrete mixed with cement and asphalt
“Waste-free Cities” Construction and Carbon Emission Reduction in China: Based on the Perspective of Circular Economy
No full textSolid waste and carbon dioxide are important elements of environmental governance. Under the background of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, the research on whether and how to promote the construction of “no waste cities” and carbon emission reduction is of great significance in China. The generation of solid waste and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide has the same origin, which can be well coordinated to promote environmental governance
An Automated Process of Creating 3D City Model for Monitoring Urban Infrastructures
No full textThis paper describes the process of designing models and tools for an automated way of creating 3D city model based on a raw point cloud.Also, making and forming 3D models of buildings. Models and tools for creating tools made in the model builder application within the ArcGIS Pro software. An unclassified point cloud obtained by the LiDAR system was used for the model input data. The point cloud, collected by the airborne laser scanning system (ALS), is classified into several classes: ground, high and low noise, and buildings. Based on the created DEMs, points classified as buildings and formed prints of buildings, realistic 3D city models were created. Created 3D models of cities can be used as a basis for monitoring the infrastructure of settlements and other analyzes that are important for further development and architecture of cities
An Analysis of Urban Vacant Land on the Macau Peninsula
No full textWith the development and construction of the city, the urban development of the Macau Peninsula has entered an era of stock development against the background of the limited scale of urban land. With the shortage of land resources, the problem of unused land on the Macau Peninsula is coming to the fore. This paper mainly studies the problem of idle land in the Macau Peninsula, based on the urban development and particular historical background of the region, investigates and elaborates on its complex formation causes through the literature research method, and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics of idle land in the current situation of the Macau Peninsula by using GIS technology. Based on the above research,suggestions are put forward to prevent and manage the urban vacant land problem in the future urban management and development of Macau
Mapping Vehicular Noise Pollution in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria: Implication for a Sustainable Urbanization
No full textThis study aims to investigate geo-referenced vehicular noise pollution in Port Harcourt metropolis of Rivers State, Nigeria. Three types of data were gathered for this study. Data from vehicular traffic noise were measured in decibel (dB) using Noise Dosimeter (ND); data from vehicular traffic counts were carried out by observing and counting traffic flow at junctions and roundabouts as well as vehicular traffic noise location map was established by using Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument processed in the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The findings indicated that in the northern segment, Igwurita (99.5 dB) and New road roundabout (96 dB), generated the highest vehicular noise in the spatial distribution. In the eastern road segments, Eleme Flyover (98.1 dB) and Artillery Junction (95.5 dB) contributed the highest vehicular noise levels. In the northern segment, New Road (2311 vehicles) and Igwuruta (1566 vehicles) at the roundabouts, generated the highest vehicular traffic counts in the spatial distribution. Thus, among the eastern roads, Eleme Flyover (6735 vehicles) and Artillery Junction (5539 vehicles) contributed the highest vehicular counts in the area. The results showed that the northern and eastern segments of Port Harcourt metropolis had the highest level of vehicular traffic noise and traffic flow. Thus, the vehicular noise level values have exceeded the recommended 75 dB national and international health standards.The study recommended construction of more road network in the southern and western parts of Port Harcourt metropolis in order to decongest traffic flow and noise pollution in the northern and eastern segments of the city
Agroforestry for Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience Enhancement and Vulnerability Attenuation in Smallholder Farming Systems in Cameroon
No full textThe adverse impacts of climate variability and change are felt mostly by smallholder farmers and smallholder farming systems where rainfed agriculture is predominant. Continuous dependence on rain-fed agriculture has led to declining crop productivity and crop failure in most cases as weather patterns shift which is very problematic for crop growth. Agroforestry which is one of the climate-smart, environmentally benign and agroecological practices has been found to mitigate climate change adversities while fostering adaptation, enhancing resilience and attenuating vulnerability especially in smallholder farming systems. However, in Cameroon, limited empirical research has been done to ascertain the role played by agroforestry in climate change adaptation, resilience enhancement and vulnerability attenuation. This paper which is based on an in-depth review of literature was undertaken to uncover what has been done so far in terms of empirical studies tackling the role played by agroforestry in climate change adaptation, resilience and vulnerability attenuation in Cameroon. It was found that most of the empirical studies have been carried out in one agroecological zone – the western highlands of Cameroon, showing that smallholder farmers adopt different agroforestry practices in the face of climate change with the most common being home gardens with livestock, home gardens without livestock, scattered trees on croplands, improved fallows, live fences/hedges and windbreaks, coffeebased agroforestry, cocoa-based agroforestry, apiculture-based agroforestry, fodder banks, and plantation crop-based agroforestry practices. These agroforestry practices provide a plethora of ecosystem services categorized into provisioning, supporting, regulating and cultural which play an important role towards fostering climate change adaptation, enhancing resilience and attenuating vulnerability in smallholder farming systems. From the findings uncovered by this study, it is imperative for more empirical studies to be carried out in the other four agroecological zones of Cameroon where there is a paucity of information regarding the role played by agroforestry towards fostering climate change adaptation, enhancing resilience and attenuating vulnerability in smallholder farming systems
Wave Dynamics of the Average Annual Temperature Surface Air Layer New Delhi for 1931-2021
No full textThe identification method revealed asymmetric fluctuations in the dynamics of the average annual temperature in New Delhi from 1931 to 2021, that is, for 90 years. An analysis of the wave patterns of climate until 2110 was carried out. Geotechnology of the Himalayan passage was proposed to reduce heat waves in India and China. Formulas containing four and 18 fluctuations were adopted for forecasting. Models give an increase in the heat wave from 2021, which is the fourth component. As a result, the landscape of the Himalayan mountains and the deserts of Thar and Takla Makan create a regional climate system that is original for the land of the Earth. In this system, oscillatory temperature adaptation in the future will be several times greater than the global warming rate predicted in the IPCC CMIP5 report. Between 2001 and 2019 the largest temperature increase wave maximum was observed in New Delhi at 0.65 °C in 2012-2013. In the sixth phase from 2036 to 2049, an ecological catastrophe will break out in New Delhi. According to calculations, the maximum value of the average annual temperature in New Delhi was 25.82 °C in 2017. Since then, the cooling has continued for four years, which will continue until 2028. The temperature will drop to 22.54 °C due to a change in solar activity by 3.28 °C. Then by 2044, the average annual temperature in New Delhi will increase to 31.03 °C, or the increment will be 31.03 – 22.54 = 8.49 °C. In 2035, the climate in New Delhi will become hotter compared to 2021. The increase in the heat wave is noticeable. From 1931 to 2049 there will be six half-periods of cooling and warming: 1) 23; 2) 23; 3) 20; 4) 18; 5) 15; 6) 13 years old. The most dangerous is the sixth stage. It is proposed at the fifth stage for 15 years until 2037 in northern India to the Takla Makan desert in China to build a passage up to 350 km long, 10 km-20 km wide and at least 4.5 km high
On the Impact of Bell Sound on Ambient Particulates
No full textHere the authors examine whether bell sounds can have an impact on ambient aerosol levels and size distribution under atmospheric conditions. The authors present calculation results for acoustic the coagulation by church bell sounds for a range of ambient aerosol types. The results show that for orthokinetic sonic agglomeration, while the frequency spectrum of church bells is ideal for causing coagulation of ambient aerosols, the sound pressure level (SPL) becomes too low for an effect. However, in very polluted conditions, at extremely short distances from the bell dust aerosols can readily undergo sonic coagulation