Table of contents

World Multidisciplinary Earth Sciences Symposium – WMESS 2018

Marian Drusa¹, Isik Yilmaz², Marian Marschalko³, Ibolya Torok⁴, Oznur Karaca⁵, Anna Maria Ferrero⁶

¹University of Zilina, Univerzitna 8215/1, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia

²Cumhuriyet University of Sivas, 581 40 Sivas, Turkey

³VSB TU Ostrava, 708 33 Ostrava – Poruba, Czech Republic

⁴Babes-Bolyai University, Str. Clinicilor Nr.5-7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

⁵Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Terzioglu Campus, 17020 Canakkale, Turkey

⁶University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 101 25 Torino, Italy

editor@wmess.org

Preface

Dedicated volume of IOP conference series journal IOP Earth and Environmental Sciences contains the papers presented in the third "World Multidisciplinary Earth Sciences Symposium", which was held in Hotel Duo in the city of romance Prague (Czech Republic) during 3-7 September 2018. The World Multidisciplinary Earth Sciences Symposium (WMESS) has become a popular international event with participants from more than 50 countries, where experienced scientists, experts, university teachers and young researchers have the opportunity to discuss topics related to geosciences. Traditionally, this year's symposium had a very interesting scientific program supplemented with rich social events and a geological field trip to the historical city Písek.

The World Multidisciplinary Earth Sciences symposium has created unique opportunities of presenting and sharing research works in a friendly atmosphere in the following topics: Tectonics & Structural Geology – Engineering Geology – Geotechnics – Hydro & Hydrogeological Sciences – Natural Hazards – Oil, Gas & Coal – Geothermal Energy – Geomorphology – Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology – Stratigraphy, Sedimentology & Palaeontology – Geophysics & Seismology – Geodesy, Photogrammetry & Cartography – Geoinformatics & Remote Sensing – Mining Engineering – Mineral Processing – Blasting & New Technologies – Natural Resources – Environmental Sciences – Energy, Resources & Pollution & the Environment – Environmental Legislation – Biogeosciences – Geological Heritages & Geoparks – Urban Planning – Climatology – Glaciology – Occupational Health and Safety, Modelling and Soft Computing Techniques in Earth Sciences.

All papers published in this volume of IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the proceedings Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing.

Up to now, 4 to 5 models have been presented describing the development of the Carpathian-Pannonian region in terms of subduction processes that took place during the tertiary. All these models are limited to the period between the Paleocene and the Pliocene. None of these, however, explains the Quaternary and Recent phenomena in relation to the postsubduction stage. Several neotectonic models refer to the development of basaltoid volcanism in the south-eastern part of the Pannonian basin. However, the latest geodetic measurements based on GNSS monitoring show a significant kinematics of the internal Carpathian blocks and considerable vertical movement tendencies in the Transylvania, Moldavian and Romanian parts of the platform. The question is the cause of these phenomena and how they are related to earlier processes of subduction. The answer can be found in a comprehensive analysis of geodetic and geophysical data. The main reason for such effort is aspiration to isolate the residual segment of the subduction plate located under the Transylvanian region. The article presents derived geodynamic model based on the combination geodetic with geophysical data, which explain the kinematical tendencies in the eastern and southern Carpathians.

The foundations are important part of every building's structure. It can be distinguished square foundations and deep foundations. The process of creating foundations during building construction can be in some cases very complicated and, similar to other construction processes, very costly when errors and problems occurs. Lean construction is a management strategy to eliminate possible errors and wastes during execution of the processes, which is why it is nowadays more widely used for prevention, as well as in the situation of emergency, when solutions already prepared are executed according to the plan. One of the methods that can help in successful implementation of good practices in construction from the quality management perspective is DMAIC, which means Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control. Authors decided to use it for the purpose of this publication. Article presents the use of the DMAIC concept on the example of foundation preparation in the construction site in the city of Koło. The paper presents methods of quality management in the construction process based on foundation works. The quality analysis was based on the DMAIC method, in which the following quality analysis methods were used: Ishikawa diagram, FMEA analysis, Pareto chart. The proposed methods and solutions can be implemented on other construction sites conducting similar processes. Attention is drawn to the need for further research to be carried out to confirm the estimated values of solving problems ratio in groundworks processes, which authors are planning to execute on similar construction site in Poznań.

Analysis of soil-structure interaction demands properly determined parameters for a particular calculation method. In the case of deformation modulus determination, it is essential to take actual construction activities into consideration. It means that these moduli should correspond to stress-strain range of a particular construction. The use of numerical methods, allowing for more realistic soil-structure interaction, compatibility of displacements, as well as to account for the stiffness of the structure and the soil, may provide more realistic prediction of displacements. The article presents the methods of stiffness parameters determination including all factors that should be taken into consideration in geotechnical design. The article characterizes clays of Poznań formation, a subsoil for many structures in almost 75% area of Poland. Investigations conducted for clays in Warsaw were used as a background with the focus on an underground Metro station. Direct measurements of the unloading of the bottom of the excavation in clays were used for validation. Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to verify stiffness parameters and their determination methods. The correctness of obtained results was verified by comparison with deformation measurements of station construction and displacement measurements in the adjacent area. As a conclusion, the article shows that the type of a construction and its character should be taken into consideration in geotechnical parameter determination. The analysis with stiffness parameters determined in the small-strain range of deformations allows to obtain displacement values approximate to real ones. In the case of an underground station, large area of soil interacts with a structure, and in this case, the deformations are small, which should be taken into account in a design analysis.

Optimization is a common and very often necessary process performed for economic reasons during the realization of construction projects. This report presents the optimization of a residential project at the beginning of the construction process. It describes detailed modifications made to concrete reinforcement construction that have brought cost savings, while at the same time taking into consideration the risks and costs that result from project modification.

The paper presents results of the laboratory tests of the permeability coefficient of clay carried out in the originally constructed apparatus. This device is intended to test the permeability of low permeable soils. To verify the instrument and the reliability of the obtained results, tests on clay samples originating from Kleszczow Rift Valley were performed. In order to better identify the soil sample, its basic physical parameters and grain-size distribution curve were presented. The permeability tests were performed on three undisturbed samples of the same soil at four different pressure gradients. The diameter and the height of the sample were d = 40 mm, h = 30 mm, respectively. The hydraulic conductivity was determined based on the constant head tests results. During tests the penetrating liquid was distilled water. The full permeability test of a single sample was relatively short and lasted from 10 to 12 days. For tested clay the void ratio was equal to 0.53, and the permeability coefficient varied between 4.7· 10^-10 to 6.2· 10^-10 [m/s] in function of the hydraulic gradient. The values of the permeability coefficient obtained in this work correspond well with results presented in the literature. This shows that the constructed device proved itself for determining the permeability coefficient of clays. Thus, the constructed apparatus and the applied test method are good and simple tool for testing the permeability of low permeable soils.

Distributed optical fibre technology provides new possibilities in structural health monitoring in comparison with traditional spot measurements, because it allows to measure selected physical quantities continuously over structural member length. The spatial resolution can start from as fine as 5 mm when using advanced optical reflectometers based on the principle of Rayleigh scattering. The quality of information obtained about structural condition is especially important for geotechnical applications because there are many uncertainties regarding the theoretical model describing cooperation between the foundations and the substrate as well as including the values of physical parameters. Moreover, the geometry of structural members (e.g. the diameter of the column) can be very different from design assumptions and vary along the depth depending on technology of execution. In presented case study the analysis of continuous flight auger (CFA) column was described based on the strain and temperature measurements carried out continuously over the length of 12 m. The measurements were done during the load tests, but also in the early-age concrete, when thermal-shrinkage strains appeared. The way of installation and exemplary results were presented as well as data interpretation was described and discussed hereafter.

EPS Geofoam is introduced as a suitable material for reducing dead loads and alleviation of settlements in road pavements constructed over poor ground conditions. It has been used successfully in many projects since its appearance in 1960's, yet, there are still pitfalls regarding its application and design, requiring deeper investigations. A serious problem is related to insufficient functionality of such backfills in preventing ruts on the pavement surface. In this paper, results of a series of cyclic plate load tests are presented, describing the influence of soil thickness, as an influential factor, on the performance of these embankments. Nevertheless, this thickness is not an independent factor. It is also dependent on the density of EPS in the subsequent layers. In practical applications, two layers of EPS with different densities are used and the density of the bottom layer should be minimized in order to reduce overall cost of the pavement along the highway. It has been observed that improper thickness for upper EPS layer (less than 200 mm) significantly reduces the ability of such pavements to tolerate against rutting when a noticeable number of cycles of loading is applied.

In this paper, a series of plate load tests on a sandy soil bed containing multiple layers of granulated rubber-soil mixture (RSM) under incremental cyclic loading was performed. To evaluate the settlement response and damping ratio of foundation bed, incremental cyclic loading in five steps with amplitudes of 140, 280, 420, 560 and 700 kPa were applied to the loading plate. The results show that both the total and residual settlements of the loading plate decrease with increase in the number of RSM layers, regardless of the level of applied cyclic load, but the rate of reduction in both settlements reduces with increase in the number of RSM layers. There is also an appreciable improvement in the value of the damping capacity with increase in the number of RSM layers as the damping ratio increases by 4-5% beyond the value of 12-15% obtained on untreated sand. On the basis of the study, the concept of using multiple RSM layers not only is a very attractive material to achieve less settlement and vibration attenuation for machine foundation and railway track beds, but also, the environmental impacts of waste tires are attenuated by using as composite materials in geotechnical applications.

The paper presents the comparison of results of CPTu, PMT, SPT and CH (cross-hole) tests performed in stiff, heavily overconsolidated clay at a test location in Zagreb. This clay exhibits very high pore pressures generated during CPTu penetrations despite significant overconsolidation and relatively high values of shear strength and stiffness in its undisturbed, natural state. The clay is classified using the CPTu and CH test results in recently published soil classification charts based on the soil behaviour in (S)CPTu penetrations. The results of classifications indicate that the tested clay probably has a pronounced microstructure that is likely a consequence of the geological processes of cementation and aging. Effects of cementation and aging are manifested on very high shear wave velocities, as measured in cross-hole seismic tests, and consequently very high values of the small-strain modulus. The collapse of the soil structure at higher shear displacements is resulting in volume contractions and softening behaviour after reaching the peak shear strength. The study shows a relatively good agreement between CPTu, PMT and SPT parameters and adequate correlations have been established between the cone resistance (CPTu), limit pressure (PMT) and number of blows (SPT). The in situ state and parameters of strength, stiffness and compressibility of the clay tested are estimated based on the in situ test parameters as well as comparative laboratory test results obtained on undisturbed soil samples. Existing empirical correlations developed for the interpretation of CPTu test results are mainly from young and uncemented soils without microstructure and therefore, the results shown here are important for better understanding of the structured soil behaviour characteristics (stiffness, strength, and compressibility).

The paper presents specific example of method of intensification of ash impoundment. The impoundment for permanent bedding of ashes is situated on the left side of the Danube river. Part of the dam system of impoundment is based upon the original flood bank of Danube river. At the selection of materials for elevation of the impoundment, the decision was made primarily according to two indicators with an economic aspect – the transportation distance and the increase of the accumulation volume of the impoundment. Finally, the decisive criterion was the occurrence of the failure rate of the ash dam systems in comparison with the dams built from loess soils. As the impoundment is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Danube river, safe and failure-free operation has the priority. There is compared the geotechnical characteristics of the loess soils in the original deposition and the loess soils compacted at optimum water content by Proctor Standard compaction test. The proposed method of intensification of ash impoundment is analyzed. The stability analysis provides an example of the utilization of the results of the monitoring of the geotechnical properties of the materials forming the impoundment's body and the surrounding rock mass.

In recent years, in Slovakia the construction of hydraulic structures focused on impoundment objects, which role is to utilize hydropower potential of watercourses by small hydropower plants. Construction and operation of the hydraulic structure requires to deal with issues connected with flow of seeping water and groundwater. One of the safety and reliability problems of hydraulic structures is to ensure the filtration stability of the geological environment. The most common problem with these structures is internal suffusion. Internal suffusion is defined as the transport of fine particles of soils in the porous environment due to hydrodynamic forces of seeping water. These processes can endanger the stability and serviceability of earth structures and solid structures of impoundment objects. A sufficient level of safety against internal suffusion can by ensured only by geological survey and analysis of the mechanical properties of the soils. Proposed paper is focused on internal suffusion. In our paper we analysed the geometric criteria of filtration stability for gravel soils for selected hydraulic structures according to the latest knowledge. By comparing several criteria and several samples of gravel soils with different mechanical properties we derived dependencies related to the filtration stability of gravel soils.

Granular materials deposited under gravity present inherent fabric anisotropy. The mechanical properties of such materials depend on the angle between shear plane and bedding plane perpendicular to gravity direction. From the literature data of direct shear of glass beads, Fujian and mica sands, the stress-dilatancy relationships are analyzed based on Frictional State Theory. The angle of critical frictional state, and parameters α and β may describe stress-dilatancy relationship for direct sheared granular materials with inherent anisotropy. It is shown that parameters α and β are different for pre-peak and post-peak stage of shearing, contrary to isotropic sand behaviour. It is also shown that Taylor's and Bolton's relationships are correct only for some experiment for which the angle between shear and bedding plane is 0°. The critical frictional angle Φ° is almost equal to the residual angle of granular material.

Rockfill materials consist primarily of angular to subangular particles obtained by blasting rock or extracting rounded to sub rounded particles from river bed. The stress-strain (stress-dilatancy) behaviour of rockfill materials is affected by mineralogical composition, particle grading, size and shape of particles and stress level. Particle breakage has an important effect on strength and stress-dilatancy behaviour. Based on a large scale triaxial tests data reported in literature, the stress-dilatancy relationship is analysed using Frictional State Theory. It is shown that stress level significantly influences the stress-dilatancy relationship. The double-effect of particle breakage may be observed: one − the energy consumed for breakage during shear, and the other − the extra contraction caused by breakage. Parameter α of Frictional State Theory represents the energy consumption effect and β represents extra contraction caused by breakage. It is shown that Frictional State Theory can reflect the influence of particle breakage on stress-strain behaviour of rockfill material.

The study presents the results of the numerical calculations of the temperature impact on the two phase medium deformation described with the usage of Biot equations of consolidations with the rheological Kelvin-Voigt skeleton at the example of thermoconsolidation of flotation waste landfill "Żelazny Most" under influence of its dead weight, filtration and temperature gradient. 3D geometrical model of the landfill is based on the geometric measurements of the area and its neighbourhood. A starting point for the calculations was the calculated water table of the underground waters in the landfill area. The data referring to the effective parameters of the model were partially obtained via laboratory tests of the materials coming from the landfill. The rest of the data was taken from the literature related to the mediums with similar characteristics. The results of the stress state in the landfill allow to define the sensitivity of the model's parameters in the temperature changes.

Constitutive relations for a diphase medium consisting of a viscoelastic Kelvin-Voigt skeleton and a compressible Newtonian liquid filling the pores of the medium were derived from the equations of irreversible thermodynamics, assuming the thermoviscoelasticity process to be non-isothermal. The rate of change in internal energy in the two phases of the diphase medium was determined from the first law of irreversible thermodynamics. Physical relations for the solid phase and the liquid filling the pores of the medium, and an equation of entropy were determined using Helmholtz free energy and the second law of thermodynamics for open systems. The temperature of the medium's two phases in the heat conduction process was assumed to be identical for the representative elementary volume (RVE). Stresses, related to the total sur-face of RVE, for the diphase medium solid phase and liquid phase, were defined according to the Darcy-Biot consolidation theory. The derived constitutive relations and the heat conduction equation are linear since the expansion of the function of Helmholz free energy into a Taylor series was limited to the second order. In reality, however, as the temperature increases, the model becomes nonlinear. Therefore, the applicability of the proposed model is limited to certain intervals of change in the temperature of the solid body and the liquid. The constitutive relations for the elastic skeleton come down to relations for the thermal consolidation of the Biot-Darcy body.

The negative effect of rains on the stability of the slopes is a problem that, added to anthropic factors and population settlements, currently generate not only material but also human losses. Therefore, the evaluation of threat by mass movements has become a first order problem. However, one of the aspects that presents the greatest uncertainty in these evaluations is the effect of soil saturation. This paper presents a methodology for evaluating the effect of rainfall by estimating the probability of soil saturation using the Richards equation and the first order and second moment method-FOSM. The methodology was applied considering two residual soils from the area of north-western Colombia named Aburra valley. For this purpose, a characterization of each material was made, evaluating the variability of shear strength parameters and hydraulic parameters. Subsequently, infiltration models were made using the Richards equation with a historical rain event that occurred between October 27 and November 13, 2010, which exceeded the failure thresholds established for the Aburra Valley and generated several landslides. The advance of the wetting front was evaluated, and the probability of saturation was determined. It was found that, in all the evaluated soils, full saturation reaches depths between 600 and 6000 mm and the probability of saturation is greater in soils from Stock de Altavista that report a lesser values of air entry suction. The mean values of ϕ^b varies between 1.3° and 6.5° for soils from Stock de Altavista.

Paper deals with designing spread foundation on inhomogeneous subsoil by PN- 81/B-03020, by Meyerhof and Hanna and by procedure often applied in Slovakia. The approach using substitute foundation, the approach using punching shear failure and the approach using shear surface are introduced. Three approaches were applied to design foundation on inhomogeneous subsoil for two cases: stronger soil underlain by weaker soil and vice versa. In case stronger soil underlain by weaker soil, PN-81/B-03020 prescribes to determine size of substitute foundation based on soil types (cohesive or cohesionless), distance from foundation base to the weaker soil top and also width of real foundation. Meyerhof and Hanna prescribe to determine adhesive force and passive force per unit length of the vertical planes crossing foundation sidewall. By Meyerhof and Hanna, adhesive force depends on cohesion of stronger layer and also on ratio between bearing capacity of stronger soil and weaker soil. Meyerhof and Hanna also introduce punching shear coefficient, depending on angle of internal friction of stronger soil and ratio between bearing capacity of stronger soil and weaker soil. In case weak layer underlain by strong layer, PN-81/B-03020 prescribes to ignore bearing capacity of strong layer, Meyerhof and Hanna prescribe to determine bearing capacity of both layers. Meyerhof and Hanna prescribe to take into account distance from foundation base to the stronger soil and also depth of failure surface beneath the foundation in the thick bed of the upper weaker soil layer. The procedure often applied in Slovakia does not differ above mentioned two cases and prescribes for both cases to found probably shear surface, to determine average values of subsoil shear strength parameters and unit weight, based on which a bearing capacity of inhomogeneous subsoil will be determined. The results show that in the case stronger soil underlain by weaker soil, foundation sizes obtained by three approaches are different. Results also show that in case weaker layer underlain by stronger layer, neglecting the stronger layer leads to uneconomical design.

Lime column technique is one of the common methods which are used in order to treat swelling soils. The improvement mechanism of lime columns is based on reactions between lime and clay as a result of ion migration from the column. In this study, the performance of lime column technique on treatment of a Na-bentonite clay was investigated. For the purpose of the study, a laboratory model study was conducted. In the model, the column diameter was chosen 50 mm and a curing time of 60 days was considered. At the end of the curing time, free swelling tests were performed on the specimens extracted from different distances to the column in order to determine the changes on swelling behaviour of the bentonite. According to test results, a treatment distance of 50 mm was achieved and an improvement of 46.36% was obtained within the distance of treatment. The results of this study show that the most appropriate soils for lime column technique are the soils which have high permeability and contain a considerable amount of tree-layered clay minerals (such as Na-smectite).

The use of the Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) in geotechnics presents great potential, but also relevant difficulties. This technique allows the acquisition of field data in a fast and versatile way, facilitating the interconnection between the geological studies, the geophysical characterization, the mechanical exploration and the geotechnical zoning. The depth and accuracy of data acquisition easily adapts to various situations ranging from a few centimetres to several tens of meters, changing to antennas with lower frequency. This near surface and non-destructive test method can be used almost anywhere. The continuity of the information obtained with the GPR complements the discreet and localized information obtained with the mechanical exploration. The validation of the local geological conditions using direct mechanical exploration together with the GPR imaging allows the confirmation of the parameters obtained by techniques of different nature, that once validated can allow the interpretation of areas and volumes with improved accuracy. In favourable conditions the use of the GPR can greatly help the direct mechanical exploration but the interpretation must always be done with great care and based on a good knowledge of the site characteristics. The interpretation of the GPR has in most cases many uncertainties. The research developed aimed at increasing the geotechnical characterization efficiency, using complementary techniques in order to reduce the costs and the time required to perform the geotechnical studies, ensuring that the information obtained is suitable and sufficient for the intended purposes. In a few case studies the GPR was used conjugated with trenches and the Dynamic Probing Super Heavy (DPSH) test, and allowed to enhance the individual information of each technique, increasing reliability, taking into account the importance of the geology of each site. In the geotechnical study for the rehabilitation of an ancient Villa, requiring the construction of a small auditorium in the basement and an underground garage in the garden, the GPR and the DPSH successfully allowed to define the geotechnical zoning of the surface soils and of the depth of the sandstone bedrock, as the local information obtained by the DPSH allowed to validate the GPR imaging. The presence of buried pipes and of an underground water tank were also identified by a GPR grid. In karst areas the interpretation of the GPR can be complex due to the irregular geological interface between the limestone and the residual soils filling the dissolution zones. In aeolian sands the layers structure and the change in grain size are usually well identified with the GPR imaging, which can be validated by the geological reconnaissance and the mechanical exploration. Besides the natural variation of the electromagnetic properties of the ground mass, unexpected causes like tree roots, uncontrolled fill or even previous excavations can difficult a clear interpretation of the GPR data.

The aim of our work is to investigate the comparative performance of three different software packages. Slope stability of an open pit phosphate mine was studied using numerical methods, finite element (FEM) and finite difference methods (FDM). More specifically, the widely used geotechnical software FLAC 2D of Itasca Consulting Group Inc., PLAXIS 2D of Plaxis bv and Phase2 of Rocscience Inc. are used by applying the so-called shear strength reduction (SSR) technique under Mohr-Coulomb constitutive models. The scope of the work is to compare the solutions obtained for the exact same problem from the three software packages and to discuss the comparative similarities and differences among them.

The stability of slopes in open pit mines is an issue of great concern because of the significant detrimental consequences instabilities can have. The stability of open pit is controlled by several geotechnical and geological factors, the most important cracks in the rocks as well as various and homogeneous of layers. In the case of study presence of a tensile crack is the most critical case in the calculation of factor of safety because of the possibility of the presence of waters in this crack that influence negatively on the stability of the open pit with traction crack, Then the mechanical characteristics of the crack filling material are more degraded than those of the marl layer between the layer of limestone open pit LAFARGE. With the differences both methods possess, sensitivity analyses and comparisons of result were done using Slide, Flac and Plaxis software for the analysis of sliding and stability of open pit. These evaluations have been performed by the limit equilibrium method through the SLIDE software, the finite element, finite difference methods through PLAXIS and FLAC respectively.

Discussed are results of evaluating selected scales for assessing the impact of seismic tremors on the subsoil in mining operations areas with engineering structures. Investigations were carried out to confirm scale analysis results of selected cases, including damage to the buildings. The analysis showed that in most cases there was no relationship between the design solutions for modern and traditional building structures and the type and form of damage caused by the analyzed dynamic interactions. Damage analysis of selected cases points to the need for updating the existing scale intensity levels. The nature of tremor impact on buildings and structures located in areas of mining activities is continuously studied and the results of our investigations will be presented in the final report. This research project's covering the analysis of an interdisciplinary approach to mining damage, including legal, engineering, construction, geotechnical, mining, economic, and financial aspects. This paper discusses methods for using certain tested scales to measure how mining operations interact with engineering structures and people. The results of our analyses, data from actual forecasts and evaluations of interactions induced by coal mining operations support our conclusions and validate comparisons to empirical and model investigations of certain selected types of mining interactions.

The effect of stress level on the compressive strength of rock samples is researched using Tephrite samples subjected to cyclic loading. Four sets of stress level (% 20, %30 %40 and % 50 of uniaxial compressive strength) were applied for cyclic loading tests on dry and saturated samples by 200 tons servo-hydraulic testing rig. The compressive strength of the rock by different stresses were determined under constant frequency and number of cycles at failure. The results of the cyclic loading tests indicate that stress level has significant influence on the uniaxial compressive strength. An increase in stress resulted in a decrease in compressive strength proportionality. In the case of the saturated samples, it was found that compressive strength reduced by approximately 25 per cent.

Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K (h)) is important soil-physical characteristic, especially by determination of infiltration intensity, irrigation regime, drainage proposals, simulation of pollutants and other agricultural and hydrological processes. K(h) is determined by soil structure and texture. Measurements are therefore considerably influenced by the heterogeneity of the soil composition. The disc infiltrometer has become a popular apparatus for measuring in situ K(h) of the soil at some prescribed potential. A number of different methods have been proposed for calculating K(h) using the flow rate (Q(t)), from the infiltration disc with different radius. Measurements of Q(t) on a Sekule sandy soil were made using minidisc infiltrometer (METER Group Inc., Pullman W.A.) with radius of 22,5 mm and disc tension infiltrometer (Eijkelkamp Soil and Water B.V.) with radius of 100 mm. Measurements were made at potentials of –20 mm with both devices. K(h) values were calculated using 2 different methods. The aim of our work was to test two K(h) measuring devices with different size of infiltration ring in order to check how the differences affects K(h) determination. This would give an idea which method would be more appropriate to use regarding the time-consume, effort and better characterization of the soil heterogeneity. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was found when applying both methodologies. However, there is still a need to understand how both methodologies influence the variation of the parameters.

Thermal mineral waters are a potential resource in the local and economic development of a region. The thermal area of Termas das Águas is in the inner region of central Portugal and its grant will enable the exploration and exploitation of this water resource for medical and therapeutic purposes through a thermal medical SPA. In Portugal, the classification and legalization of a thermal unit must provide a natural mineral water resource, recognized by Portuguese Energy and Geology General Directorate and integrated in a concession granted by the Portuguese Government. For this purpose, it will be necessary to have available mineral water, with physico-chemical and microbiological, temporal stability, ensuring water's high quality. The purpose of a certified mineral water includes a detailed geomorphological, geological and hydrogeological characterization of the survey area, as well as the water's compositional temporal stability. Only after the recognition conferred by the national agency as a natural mineral water, it is possible to start a medical-hydrological study, for this resource. This process follows an experimental period of 3 years, during which it is implemented the different and specific balneotherapy techniques associated with the therapeutic features of the mineral water. A final report, to be submitted to Portuguese General Directorate for Health, will gather the main results and conclusions, regarding the benefits of this natural resource on human health, and allow its inclusion as an official medical thermal SPA in the Portuguese Normative Decrees. The main subject of this research is the geological and hydrogeological characterization of Termas das Águas aquifer, as well as the mineral water quality study (AM4 – well). The main topics for the medical hydrological study, mainly related to rheumatic and respiratory diseases, are also presented to the medical SPA of Termas das Águas.

The geothermal fields of Çeşme are located in the western part of province capital of Izmir and can be considered as important tourist resorts with a great number of thermal hot springs which are used for thermal bathing since several years. Nowadays, the geothermal waters in the fields are used for district heating and greenhouses. In the area of Çeşme, there are sedimentary and volcanic rocks predominantly. The basement rocks are of Devonian age and consists of intercalations of sandstones, greywackes and limestones overline by Upper to Middle Triassic carbonate rocks with intercalations of sandstones and claystones. These rocks are overlain by Neogene volcanic and terrestrial sedimentary rocks. In 1995, we have measured in-situ parameters in many locations of groundwaters and geothermal waters with collection of a great number of samples for these waters. The geothermal waters are of Na-Cl, Na-(Cl)-HCO₃, Na-Ca-Cl, Na-Mg-(Cl)-HCO₃, Na-Mg-Ca-(Cl)-HCO₃ and Ca-Na-Mg-(Cl)-HCO₃ type waters during the groundwaters display Na-Cl, Na-HCO₃, Na-Mg-(Cl)-HCO₃, Na-Mg-HCO₃, Na-Mg-Ca-(Cl)-HCO₃, Mg-Ca-Na-(Cl)-HCO₃ and Mg-Ca-Na-(Cl)-HCO₃ type waters. The Na-Cl type waters are originated from deep reservoir during the others can be considered as diluted Cl-HCO₃ water type. The plot of δ¹⁸O versus δD shows that the geothermal waters are enriched in δ¹⁸O and δD and located on the mixing trend between groundwaters and seawaters indicating mixing of these both different waters. The proportion of seawaters in geothermal waters seems to be very higher than groundwaters. The shift in the δ¹⁸O values are related to δ¹⁸O exchange between the deeply circulating meteoric waters and reservoir rocks in the area. The increase of δD is related to the contribution of seawaters. The geothermal waters in the area fall into fields of immature to partially equilibrated waters. In general, the reservoir temperature of the area of Çeşme is estimated to be 80 to 120 °C.

Solution of the pollution spreading in rivers is an engineering task, which could be solved by very different ways. For the simulation of the hydrodynamic dispersion in river (pollution spreading) can be 1D, as well 2D or 3D approach used. 2D (eventually 3D) approach requires much more data – physical proportions and model boundaries, velocities and dispersion parameters for two (or three) dimensions. Such data are not always available and it can be very difficult, time and money consuming task to collect necessary data. Because of this, simple analytical solution, derived for simplified initial and boundary conditions, are very often used in the practice. These analytical solutions, describing the 1D substance transport in streams, have of course many limitations and factors, which determine their accuracy. One of the very important factors is the assumption, that the pollution cloud (in case of an instantaneous pollution injection) is spreading downstream and upstream symmetrically. But in reality, almost in all streams are present the transient storage areas (dead zones), deforming the concentration distribution of the transported substance (pollution). For better adaptation to such real conditions, a simple 1D approximation method is presented in this paper. The proposed approximate method is based on the asymmetric probability distribution (Gumbel's distribution) and was verified on field experiments in Slovakia. Tracer experiments confirmed the presence of dead zones in various extents, depending mainly on the vegetation occurrence and extent in stream. Statistical evaluation confirms that the proposed method approximates the measured concentrations significantly better than methods based upon the symmetrical Gaussian distribution.

The Dão River is a tributary river on the right bank of the Mondego River, which is the longest river located exclusively in Portuguese territory. The Dão River Basin, which covers an overall area of 1378 km² and forms an almost ellipsoidal shape contained within a 62 km by 22 km rectangle, is situated in the Central Iberian Zone, the lithology of which consists essentially of elements of a granitic massif dating back to the Hercynian period. The downstream area features schistous rocks (Schist-Greywacke Complex) dating back to the pre- Ordovician period, which are understood to serve as a barrier to the flows that percolate in the granitic massif. Within the Dão River hydrographic basin, the sulphurous groundwater occurs in an upstream to downstream direction, with the following names: Caldas da Cavaca, Sezures, Termas de Alcafache, Caldas de Sangemil and Granjal. The sulphurous groundwaters are special because they have applications in thermalism, contributing to the area of public health and tourism, and can also be used while hot for geothermal installations, both in the environmental heating of buildings and the heating of their water supply. They may even be used in electricity production, if collected at temperatures higher than 80°C. Thus, knowledge of the geohydraulic model of this kind of groundwater is an absolute necessity, in order to make the hydrogeological prospection and collection of this kind of resource more efficient. In an effort to gain the greatest possible knowledge of the geohydraulic model of that groundwater, various studies were carried out to that effect, including geomorphologic, geological, hydrogeological, geochemical and isotopic studies, as well as others, namely numeric models based on finite element software. Thus, in addition to showing the basic elements of some of the aspects used in gaining knowledge of the geohydraulic model of the sulphurous groundwater of the Dão River Basin, this article also presents in particular the contributions obtained from the use of finite elements.

Fluoride (F^-) is known to have both beneficial and adverse effects on humans, depending on the total intake. Drinking water, usually obtained from groundwater, is the primary source of fluoride intake. Estonian aquifer systems differ from each other in bedding conditions, hydraulic parameters and chemical composition and fluorides are released into the groundwater mostly through water-rock interaction. The present study bases on long term groundwater monitoring data and was undertaken to assess the occurrence of fluoride values in abstracted drinking water over the whole of Estonia and their relation to groundwater's calcium content. Fluoride concentration in 4404 water samples ranges from 0 to 6.71 mg/l. Values higher than 1.5 mg/l were detected in 8 % of samples, mostly in Silurian-Ordovician aquifer system, composed of limestones and dolomites. Low fluoride area in southern Estonia coincides with the outcrop of Devonian sedimentary rocks, where the major source of drinking water is terrigenous Middle-Devonian aquifer system. The occurrence of fluorides is correlated to variations in groundwater chemical type, which is the function of the proportional content of main cations and anions. The highest F^- values prevail in wells, which produce the water with low Ca²⁺ content and vice versa. Thus, the content of calcium ions in groundwater has an important effect on fluoride concentration, insofar as Ca is an element that removes F from water through CaF₂ formation and precipitation. Generally, in terrigenous aquifer systems consisting of sand- and siltstones the optimal fluoride content (0.7-1.2 mg/l) is achieved at the calcium concentration within 30-120 mg/l, in carbonaceous Silurian-Ordovician aquifer calcium content which provides the optimal fluoride amount in carbonaceous aquifer system is 150-340 mg/l.

Natural mineral waters are a high quality underground water resource and are becoming increasingly scarce. According to Portuguese legislation this resource is organized into two main types: bottled water and thermal waters. There are some cases where the same water due to its singularities is used in both situations. It is important to stress that groundwater to be considered a natural mineral has to comply with very demanding technical requirements and only after a considerable number of studies and procedures can it be proposed superior to the state to recognize this resource as mineral water. The present work corresponds to a recently licensed natural mineral water, with application in thermal activity, in classic thermalism and wellness thermalism, and that after its licensing it was designated "Termas de São Miguel", in the municipality of Fornos of Algodres, in the district of Guarda, in Portugal. It should also be pointed out that there was no pre-existence of thermal baths, neither from Roman times, nor from any other period. It was all done from scratch. Thus, in this paper, the main aspects that lead to the licensing of the new natural mineral water are summarized, giving greater emphasis to the hydrogeochemical studies that were absolutely central in the whole process. Thus, in a first phase the geomorphological, geological, hydrogeo-environmental and hydrogeological aspects are presented and, in the whole, led to the elaboration of the geohydraulic model of the resource. In a second phase, the elements on the stability of the quality in terms of hydrogeochemicals, the respective classifications in chemical terms, are presented in detail, and their characteristics are compared with mineral waters of other Portuguese Medial Spas. Finally, some final considerations are made on the potential applications of the water under study, and the main conclusions are presented.

To evaluate the current state quality of the surface water resources in a river catchment near the city of Leiria (Central Portugal), a water sampling programme was designed and has been carried out since September of 2017. The land uses of the basin area were also studied. The three sampling sites are located in the river Lis catchment, downstream from the river spring to the city of Leiria, and in the Ribeira do Sirol tributary. The sampling programme was performed according to ISO 5667 standards. At each sampling site and twice a year, the field parameters, the concentration of dissolved gases (O2 and CO2) and the alkalinity were measured in the water. As the Lis river discharge is widely variable, flow parameters were also measured. The composition of surface water was determined in dissolved and particulate material, being the samples filtered at site. The major and minor constituents, cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH4 and Fe) and anions (HCO₃, Cl, SO₄, PO₄, F, NO₃ and NO₂) were analysed. Data of the winter campaign show that the hydrochemical facies of Lis River water are mainly Ca-HCO₃. The chemical species are in dissolved forms and there is no evidence of nitrites, phosphates or fluoride in the surface waters. The concentration of Na, K and Cl, Mg and SO₄, increase downstream, after the Ribeira do Sirol tributary, whose basin is mainly of agricultural land use. The water of River Lis in the urban area of Leiria shows evidence of a mixture of the spring water and of the Ribeira do Sirol water, with little contributions of other water sources in the urban area, pointing to a greater concern with respect to sanitation and good environmental practices in the city of Leiria.

In Poland as well as in most European countries one of the most important problem, is still high rate of occupational diseases among workers of different branches of national economy. It is caused by many factors such as: high percentage of workers exposed to one or a few harmful factors in technological process, exceeding acceptable limits of a factor in a workplace, inappropriate identification of harmful factors and long-term effects of exposition to them. This chapter presents basic assumptions of computer system supporting health risk evaluation in mining. The computer system uses assumptions of rating method of health risk evaluation worked out in Institute of Ergonomics and Safety Management in Technical University of Silesia. The advantages of presented computer system supporting health risk evaluation are: the easiness of registration and documentation of all activities in the range of health protection of workers in the work process, the possibility of determining aims and priorities of activities in the field improving work conditions, enabling controlling hazards by showing the necessity of undertaking activities essential for their reducing, obtaining a up-to-date information which leads to taking fast preventive actions.

The aim of this article is to clarify the geological structure of the area of interest (in particular the atmospheric water supply area), the assessment of hydrogeological conditions (determination of dominant collectors, flow directions of shallow and deep groundwater flows). From the aspect of the future process of the bordering Vršany quarry, part of the Slatinice dump will be extracted in the future. Since the basic factors that predispose to sliding (slope of the base, the orientation of the base, the character and nature of the deposited soil, etc.) cannot be influenced at the present or in the future, the only way to improve stability of the dump and to minimize the possibility of larger slope deformations, the long-term improvement of the shear contact strength at the interface of the dump with its subsoil.

The paper presents the methodology of bivariate statistical analysis of the joint impact of synchronous discharges in estimating the flood risk on Hron River and its tributary Slatina in Central Slovakia. Basic statistical analysis approach gives satisfactory results in the case of simple systems, for example, where the main river does not capture major tributaries. These conventional approaches may not give satisfactory results for the evaluation of flood risk in situations where floods occur on two or more rivers and join together at the same time. As input data mean daily discharges were used. Some Archimedean copula functions as a mathematical tool for joint as well as conditional probability distribution calculation of the synchronous variables were used. This class of copulas is popular in empirical applications for flexibility, easy construction and includes a whole suite of closed-form copulas that covers a wide range of dependency structures, including comprehensive and non-comprehensive copulas, radial symmetry and asymmetry, and asymptotic tail dependence and independence. The first part of the paper presents the preparation of the input data and choice of appropriate marginal probability distributions. The next part, presents the testing and selection of the appropriate copula function for the bivariate joint statistical analysis of the synchronous discharges. Tested Archimedes copula functions have achieved relatively equal calculated distribution probabilities. Probabilities calculated using the Gumbel-Hougaard copula function achieved the least error of the estimation. This copula function has been selected as the most appropriate for illustrating the joint distribution probability and consequently to determine the joint probability of occurrence of the synchronic discharges. The results showed that the joint probability of maximum discharges is relatively low, but not unlikely. In the context of climatic extreme events, statistical techniques such as event coincidence analysis will be relevant for investigating the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on human societies and ecosystems worldwide. The results obtained by the bivariate analysis of the variables which characterize the hydrological regime can contribute to a more reliable assessment of the flood risks.

In the present study, we focused on the statistical analysis of changes in the characteristics of the minimum, average annual, and maximum discharge series of the Danube River at Ceatal Izmail water gauge. We have processed the series of annual average discharges during the whole water stage observation period 1840–2015, as well as the average daily discharge over the period 1931–2015. Firstly, we have identified changes in commonly used hydrological characteristics (such as long-term trends and variability of the annual averages, minimum annual discharges, occurrence of extremes, etc.). In the second part we divided the annual hydrogram of the daily discharges into individual flow events (waves) and we calculated their number and their duration in each year. Specifically, we have calculated the numbers and characteristics for extremely dry periods, as well as for small and large floods. The analysis of the discharge series of the Danube River evaluated at Ceatal Izmail shows: the long-term average discharge of the Danube River in the closing profile does not change. Annual regime has slightly changed - spring discharge peaks occur in the last years about 40 days earlier. From the statistical discharge analysis, we still do not know clearly whether this is the result of higher precipitation sums due to climate change or due to the channel training - reducing flood areas and draining acceleration. In the past, fluctuations in the Danube River flow were even higher than at present, in both directions - minimum and maximum discharge were more extreme in some periods. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on historical hydrology and analyze as many observations as possible. Statistical attention to the discharge, as well as precipitation and air temperature series needs to be continued.

The rapid increase of the number newly-erected high-rise buildings in Romania during the last two decades brought up the importance of the continuous monitoring of their state. For seismic actions, a post-event modification of the dynamic characteristics of a building can provide a rapid indicator about its potential damage. The paper presents the methods, procedures and steps by which a system providing online remote access to data resulting from building vibration monitoring could be implemented and used for buildings in Romania. The system would allow rapid identification of building damage, based on the processing of recorded data. Identified issues, as well as potential bottlenecks are presented, together with the proposed solutions. The system is planned to be implemented by using the infrastructure available at NIRD URBAN-INCERC, Romania. The paper also presents a case study concerning the structural health monitoring of a multi-story reinforced concrete building, carried out by the project team.

In the Polish part of the Carpathians there are 14 retention reservoirs that accumulate around 1200 million m3 of water. The last larger hydrotechnical structure is the Świnna Poręba reservoir, capacity: 160 million m3, built on the Skawa river. The reservoir has a very varied coastline, within which there are many landslide areas (including the Ostałowa landslide region). Hydropower disasters are known from the history of hydrotechnical objects, the reason for which was the insufficient identification of the geological structure of the reservoir bowl. Documentation of landslide in such areas is therefore an issue of great importance for the safety of not only the hydrotechnical object itself, but also people inhabiting the area of the water reservoir. At particular stages of documenting landslide areas, it is important to: recognize the mechanism that activates the landslide, assess the possibility of securing a slope or escarpment, indicate the optimal method of stabilizing the landslide, determine the geotechnical parameters necessary to develop a landslide protection project and its monitoring. In the article, the key elements of the documentation for the protection of the Ostałowa region were presented against the background of the legal regulations in Poland. The content of landslide document sheets, the scope of the geological work project and the scope of geological engineering documentation for the landslide protection project were characterized. The key elements of the geotechnical design are presented, including slope stability calculations and the proposed protections are presented. Surveying monitoring of the Ostałowa area constituting a continuation of geological works is carried out on a network of sixteen benchmarks controlled in relation to four benchmarks of the reference network. This monitoring should also be continued after the protection of the landslide, as it is the basic measurable way of determining land displacements. Measurement results indicating soil displacement are the basis for possible prevention actions.

Screening analysis is a useful guideline which helps us with proper field selection for different enhanced oil recovery processes. In this work, reservoir simulation is combined with experimental design to estimate main effects and possible interactions of reservoir rock and fluid properties on performance of different gas injection processes in naturally fractured reservoirs (NFRs). Studied parameters include reservoir thickness (h), oil viscosity μ_o), pore size distribution (λ), horizontal permeability (K_h), storage capacity (ω), reservoir dip, critical water saturation (S_wc) and threshold capillary pressure (p_ct). The recovery factors of different simulation designs are analyzed by use of fractional factorial design (FFD) approach. Finally, the statistical significance of results are evaluated by hypothesis testing and ANOVA, and presented by Pareto and tornado plots. Main effect analysis showed that effective parameters are ordered with respect to their importance as follows: For Methane and nitrogen injection: K_h, dip, S_wc, ω, h, μ_o and λ; threshold capillary pressure showed a minor effect on recovery factor. For Carbon dioxide injection: μ_o, dip, S_wc, ω, h and Kh; Pore size distribution (λ) and threshold pressure were not shown to be statistically significant in this process. Likeness of main effects and parameter interactions for methane and nitrogen injection prove the similarity of dominant mechanisms and characteristics of these processes compared to CO₂ injection which seems almost different.

The huge worldwide energy demand, and the need for more crude oil production, together with the low-efficiency of the conventional abstraction methods are part of the reasons for increasing interest in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques for recovering more oil from existing reservoirs. Utilization of different types of surfactants (synthetic or natural) in order to decrease the water-oil interfacial tension (IFT) is one of the most common methods for EOR. However, polymers and synthetic chemicals have a number of disadvantages such as linking to fossil fuels, high cost and environmental impacts. In this review, the application of natural surfactants produced from the leaves of Olive, Spistan, Prosopis, Mulberry, Zizyphus spina Christi, Soapnut and Chamomilla plants in EOR processes are investigated. The effects of natural surfactants extracted from the leaves of the mentioned plants on reduction of the oil-water interfacial tension (IFT) are studied and compared extensively. Pendant drop and ring methods have been employed by most of researchers to identify the IFT values as a determining parameter in performance of natural surfactant flooding to increase ultimate oil recovery. This comparative study in the application of natural surfactants in EOR will pave the way for future studies and helps further research in EOR schemes.

One of the most important natural energy resources of our country stands to be as coal; our reserve with the newly discovered bed exceeds more than 14 billion tons. Although the higher quality coals are located at the western and inner part of Anatolia, there are some coal beds in the eastern Anatolia as well. The coals near Muş city are one of them. The coals are Tertiary (Pliocene) aged coals. Petrographical and chemical properties, as moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content of the coals were determined in this study. The coals are of many thin layers and of a total thickness varying between 0.9-3.6 meters. The original coals contain of an average lower calorific value about 1200 Kcal/kg. Their ash content changes between 17-30 %, moisture with 30% average. The coals exhibit higher moisture content which is thought to be derived from high ground water level and of surfical water inputs. The dominant maceral of the coals is huminite, changing between 28 to 61 % amount. Gelinite is the most common huminites. Liptinite content changes between 2-5% and inertinite, between 2-11 %. The huminite reflectance (Ro) were measured as changing between 0.10 - 0.29 % (standard deviation as 0.01 - 0.02%) and corresponds to lignite rank. The low reflectance values are probably resulted from their shallow burials and their being remote to tectonic activities in the region. The coals comprise of 3-6% pyrite and 14-62 clay and other inorganic materials. Muş coals were classified as poor quality lignite, based on organic petrography, coal quality data and their low maturity index. Detail coal petrographical analysis seems to indicate depositional environment of the coals to be as limnic swamps. Total reserve of the coals is about 6.2 million metric tons.

Petroleum, a type of fossil fuels, is made up of the words "petra" meaning stone in Latin and "oleum" meaning oil (Petra oleum = Petrol) and it is Petroleum is English. Due to the growing population in the world, dependence on oil continues despite the search for clean and sustainable alternative energy sources. Just like all fossil-based energy sources, it is a fact that the use of oil causes air pollution, indirectly pollution of land and water resources, and the most important problem of today, global warming. Oil spills are one of the causes of this pollution. Natural and artificial oil spills cause oil pollution and cause damage that is difficult to recycle in the environment. Petroleum poses a serious risk to water resources in the pre-use phase. In this study; it will be investigated whether there is any pollutant effect on the fresh water resources in the pre-use stages of oil exploration, production, transportation, processing and storage. As a research area, Diyarbakır Province, which is located in the north of the Upper Mesopotamian Basin, where all phases (systems) before use such as exploration, production, transmission, storage and treatment (refining) are found altogether. Almost all of the oil production in Turkey is provided from the South-eastern Anatolia Region. With daily crude oil production, Diyarbakır is the second largest producer of crude oil after Batman. In Diyarbakır province there are 42 Oil Fields operated by various oil producers and over 260 Oil Wells are located in these fields. In the scope of this study; In Diyarbakır province, active or inactive oil fields and their locations will be determined and their impact areas will be determined. Underground and surface water resources (existing wells, streams and natural and artificial lakes) being in the impact area will be identified and their locations will be processed on the map. Samples will be taken from the water sources along with the field study. Physical and chemical analyzes of the samples will be performed. In this context, it will be investigated whether there are any petroleum components in the water resources and in what stage and where the pollution before the consumption occurs.

This study aims to give information about the oil production of 42 Oil Fields and the wells of each field in Diyarbakır and the surrounding area where is geologically located at the boundary of Anatolian plate and Middle Eastern oil region in the Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey. The structure of oil reservoirs at this region, the interaction of oil and water at the reservoir, capping mechanism of reservoir oil and water are the given topics about the reservoir. Average drilling depth of oil wells at the surrounding area, chemical structure and physical properties of production formations, calculation of production rate, pump types and selecting the suitable type of pump for several production rates, advantages and disadvantages of the pump types are also the other given information about the region. Moreover, regional evaluation of the oil and water ratios, API gravity of produced oil, salinity and pH values of produced water are mentioned by using the analysis of samples taken from the wells in different regions of Diyarbakır province. The other purpose of the study is to inform about stocking of produced oil and water by using surface systems, seperation systems of oil from the water, injecting of seperated water to water injection wells, analysing the downhole and surface equipment failures for production wells and enviromental effects of oil production. Giving information about the economical aspect of the oil production for Turkey and Diyarbakır region is also one of the other goal. Solutions are offered for the encountered problems during the production, separation, transportation, and the refinery processes of the reserves in Diyarbakır city of Turkey, that imports most of its petroleum and natural gas use despite being very close to relatively large reserves.

The change of pressure, temperature or chemical composition of crude oil during oil production constitute the factors that may destabilize the heaviest fraction of crude oil presented in asphaltenes leading to many problems in the production system including the alteration of reservoir rock wettability, permeability reduction, plugging of tubing and production aerial facilities which generate a high production cost because of loss in the well productivity and the need of corrective measures. In this work, a crude oil sample was taken from an Algerian oil field to study the efficiency of two commercial inhibitors. The flocculation onset point of asphaltenes was measured by a solid detection system which is based on the light transmittance of flocculated particles when n-heptane is added. The effectiveness of two inhibitors was evaluated by the solid detection system at different concentration to select the best inhibitor, however, the best additive should provide a good performance at low concentration. Meanwhile, the effect of thermodynamic conditions has been also established in this work, however, the operator conditions of pressure and temperature have affected the efficiency of the added inhibitor on the flocculation of asphaltenes.

Waterflooding is generally performed to maintain reservoir pressure and as a consequence, production period is extended. However, conventional waterflooding may be not suitable for every reservoir. Low Salinity Waterflooding (LSW) which is recently the most mentioned technique is therefore, considered. Although clear explanation of oil recovery mechanism is not available, it is believed that the key mechanism is Multi-component Ion Exchange (MIE). This study aims to assess improvement of relative permeability and wetting condition of sandstone formation from oilfield in Thailand, through the MIE mechanism. The study is divided into two major parts. The first part is laboratory study including core and fluid preparations, imbibition test, coreflooding test and ion-exchange detection. After laboratory data including fluid production rate and pressure difference versus time are obtained, core simulation using reservoir simulation program called STAR® commercialized by Computer Modelling Group (CMG) is performed to study the change of wetting condition through the shifting of relative permeability. Obtaining results would help verifying suitability of the implementation of this technique in oilfield. Results from imbibition test showed that LSW yields higher oil recovery factor compared to formation water. Diluted formation water at 5,000 ppm which is approximately one-third of formation water, is the best water formulation, yielding the fastest rate of imbibition in this study. From ion-exchange detection test, results showed the variation of divalent ion concentrations compared to injected water and moreover, presence of calcium and magnesium ions in oil phase supports the occurrence of MIE during the displacement mechanism. The theoretical model matching with physical data using reservoir simulation program indicates that LSW slightly affects the original wetting condition. Water wetness is lessened as can be observed from the increment of relative permeability to water at the end point saturation. Moreover, LSW reduces residual oil saturation and at the same time, increases relative permeability to oil. From the detection of MIE together with the observation of wetting condition through core simulation, it can be concluded that LSW is a promising technique for oilfield in Thailand. As produced water must be reinjected back into reservoir based on zero discharge regulation of Thai government, this low-cost technique of diluting water salinity prior to reinjection would fulfil the requirement of government and at the same time helps increasing oil recovery of the total field.

Recognizing of detail rock genetic types in Abu-Madi Formation using log curve shapes techniques is the main object of this research work. Abu-Madi Formation has been drilled in The Baltim gas field, offshore Nile Delta, and is deposited in a fluvio-marine environment which exhibits complex lithofacies. It is composed mainly of sandstone intercalated with siltstone and shale interbeds. The Abu Madi Formation is considered as the main gas producing reservoir rock in the Baltim gas field. Facies analysis and reconstruction of facies patterns for Abu-Madi Formation were performed using Log curve shapes interpretation. The constructed vertical profiles of three borehole logs data against lithologic intervals of the Abu-Madi Formation define the depositional history and the prevailing different rock genetic types. Two main rock genetic types were recognized indicating deltaic sedimentation. They are: 1. Distributary channel and 2. Stream Mouth bar deposits. They are exhibited either by a single unit of distributary channel or a complex superimposed on a stream mouth bar unit. Generally, they are representing lower deltaic plains and deltaic fringes sediments respectively. These rock genetic types are considered as the main gas producing zones in the Baltim field.

Compressional and shear velocities were measured at room temperature and ambient pressure on cylindrical samples. The p-wave and s-wave velocities have been measured at ultrasonic frequencies of 63 kHz and 33 kHz, respectively. Compressional and shear waves have different behaviour in rocks depending on difference in porosity, fluid saturation, fluid viscosity, rock density, lithologic laminations, fracturing, clay content, mineralogy, compaction and pore space framework. The velocity ratio of compressional and shear waves (V_p/V_s) varies in crystalline and metamorphic rocks within a very narrow range (from 1.7 to 1.9). In sedimentary rocks, it varies in a wider range from 1.5 to 14.0 due to the very low shear strength of highly porous rocks (Φ > 25%). The technique used to measure acoustic wave velocity is the pulse first arrival technique, in which the travel times are determined for a pulse of compressional and/or shear waves to pass a known measured thickness of the rock (sample length). P-wave and s-wave velocities values (at different saturation) have been determined on a subset of 67 sandstone core samples. Only 26 sandstone samples are belonging to the upper Cretaceous in age (Bahariya Fm, Egypt) and the rest of samples belongs to the Miocene, Lower Pliocene and Upper Pliocene in age (Endrod gas field, Hungary). The p-wave and s-wave velocities were measured with the sample fully saturated with air (dry, S_w = 0) and partially saturated with brine water (S_w = 25%, 50% and 75%) and fully saturated with brine water (S_w = 100%). The effect of sandstone sample water saturation either partial or full water saturation on acoustic parameters were investigated. Some empirical approaches in obtained data analysis are developed based on both Wyllie and Raymer equations in order to predict seismic velocities (V_p and V_s) and Poisson's ratio for either dry or saturated sandstones.

Hydraulic flow units and rock types in the Middle and Lower Bahariya Formation encountered in different drilled wells in NEAG-1 field were investigated. These are governed by lithologic variations and flaser laminations characterizing the Bahariya deposits, while they have a direct impact on sedimentation and digenetic process. The measured pore throat radius (r35) using mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) technique were used to develop self-reliant trend lines with reliable formula derived from laboratory petrophysical measurements. Petrographic investigations were used for outlining mineralogy, porosity types and mode of occurrence of formation fines. X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) of bulk samples was used for detecting rock forming minerals, mineralogy of cementing materials and their quantitative dominance in the pore spaces of the studied Bahariya sandstone samples. The Primary and secondary porosity either interparticle or intraparticle are controlling by pore space architecture while, four reservoir rock types (T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-4) are detected. Each rock type reflects different sedimentary environmental agent, degree of digenesis and variation in mineralogy. The calculated equations predict that up to 85 % of measured permeability data demonstrate 10 hydraulic flow units which reveal the value of r35 standing between 0.2μm and 3. 11μm. The relationship between helium porosity and nitrogen permeability for the studied samples are supported by high coefficients of correlation (R2 = range 0.75 to 0.85) allowing reservoir characterization and permeability prediction from measured average porosity of each reservoir rock type. Different empirical relationships were constructed in order to facilitate hydrocarbon exploration and development in the Neag-1 oil field in the Egyptian Western Desert.

The content of metals in soils depends on the combined effect of several factors, which include the properties of the metals themselves and their concentrations in the soil, environmental conditions and soil components. Topsoil samples from different plots of a rural area, which combines reforestation (forests soils) with agriculture (pasture and cultivation soils) and livestock in the Galicia region, NW Spain, were analyzed for total Cu and Zn, pH, organic matter content, and particle size distribution. The geological substrate of the study area is mainly biotitic schist. The aims of this study were to investigate the total Cu and Zn concentrations in the topsoil samples, and to examine the relationship of these metals with the mentioned physicochemical properties using a correlation analysis. Soils were characterized by conventional analytical methods. Total Cu and Zn contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after wet digestion with a hot mixture of nitro-perchloric-hydrofluoric acids. The results showed that the soils have on average moderately acid pH, considerable organic fraction and clay loam texture. The total Cu and Zn concentrations were low (mean about 25 mg kg^-1 and 78 mg kg^-1 respectively), which reveals that these topsoils are not contaminated. The statistical analysis showed positive correlations between the sum of the clay and silt contents, and the total Cu and Zn concentrations. There are no significant correlations between total Cu and Zn, and organic matter content.

A hard layer of calcite cemented sandstones overlaid weakly consolidated mudstones occur in the Middle Triassic, Ermaying Formation in the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, China, were examined to reveal the diagenetic environment of Pi sandstone. The Pi sandstone refers to a type of terrigenous clastic rock assemblage composed mainly of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone with red and white color, which is characterized by exposing or being covered with sand or loess, vulnerable to weathering and erosion, distributed in the contiguous area of Shaanxi province, Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Shanxi province in China, and formed during Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic. The "Pi" comes from the folk name (pishuang) of arsenic in Chinese, the appellation of the "Pi sandstone" means that it is harmful to soil and water conservation. The Pi sandstone samples were collected from a sheet-like sandstones deposited in ephemeral river. Petrographic observation show that the samples studied carry a semi-arid climate signal, are cemented by mictrie (microcrystalline calcite), sparry (coarse-crystalline) calcite as well as quartz overgrowths. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of calcite in the studied are –6.2 to – 3.8 ‰ PDB and from–10.2 to –8.9‰ PDB, respectively. The evidence from petrography and stable isotopes suggests that the cementation of the sandstone mainly occurred in the vadose - phreatic environment.

Well-preserved leaves and rhizomes of the Mediterranean endemic marine angiosperm Posidonia oceanica and the rich associated mollusc and fish fauna are contained in the early Pleistocene shallow siliciclastic sediments of the Kritika Formation of the island of Rhodes (Greece). The leaf moulds are preserved in fine-grained sands, whereas the rhizomes are found in situ within coarse-grained sediments. The associated molluscan fauna includes 79 species, 47 gastropods and 32 bivalves, most of them extant. The rhizome-associated community comprises 49 species and the leaves-associated community includes 30 species. Small gastropods grazing on microalgae (Rissoidae, Cerithiidae, Trochidae) are the most abundant elements of the fauna, however carnivorous gastropods (Nassariidae, Naticidae, Muricidae) are also diverse. Among the bivalves Lucinidae (e.g., Lucinella) numerically dominate the deeper infauna and other chemosymbiont bivalves, as Ungulinidae (Diplodonta) are also common. Although many species are not associated exclusively with this seagrass and they may occur in other environments as well, they generally thrive on P. oceanica leaves and rhizomes. The Posidonia oceanica meadows were also inhabited by several characteristic fish species which thrive in the seagrass meadows of the eastern Mediterranean until today. The studied fauna is the first reported from the early Pleistocene of Greece and shows similarities to the modern counterparts of Posidonia oceanica meadows, providing new data on the resilience of seagrass ecosystems to environmental change in general.

The microstructure and geochemical composition of foraminiferal tests are valuable archives for the reconstruction of paleoclimatic and paleoecological changes. In this context, the late Miocene Globigerinoides obliquus shells from Faneromeni section (Crete Island) were investigated through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging, Energy Dispersive System (EDS) analysis and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy in order to evaluate their potential as paleoenvironmental archives in the eastern Mediterranean. Investigation of diagenetic features, in late Miocene sediments from the Faneromeni section, shows that carbonate precipitation and cementation occur in various lithologies, particularly in carbonate-rich portions, such as bioclastic or clayey limestones. We identified 3 different diagenetic stages (early, intermediate, advanced), as a function of taphonomy in the study area. The comparison of microstructural and geochemical characteristics reveals a sequence of preservation states with "glassy" to "frosty" to "chalky" shells, indicative of the progressive diagenetic alteration of late Miocene planktic foraminiferal calcite. The early diagenetic stage occurs during the Tortonian, and consists of intermediates between "glassy" and "frosty" individuals. Around the Tortonian/Messinian (T/M) boundary at the second diagenetic stage, planktonic foraminifera have a clear "frosty" appearance, showing a gradual high-Mg calcite (to dolomite) crystal overgrowth development and dissolution of biogenic calcite. During the late Messinian and progressively through the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), planktonic foraminifera present a "chalky" taphonomy. The additional precipitation of authigenic high-Mg inorganic calcite and dolomite crystals in the exterior of the tests characterizes the advanced diagenetic stage. The measured amount of diagenetic Mg-rich (10-14% molar Mg on average) calcite and/or dolomite coatings is compatible with results obtained on modern eastern Mediterranean core-top sediments. The assessment of such a diagenetic alteration contributes to a more precise reconstruction of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) during the Neogene, such that only when the changing proportions of the texture are accounted for, would geochemical measurements and subsequent paleoenvironmental interpretations be more meaningful. However, further investigations should extend this approach to test the robustness of our findings across a range of taphonomies, ages and burial settings.

The oceans' surface layer holds large amounts of dissolved inorganic carbon that is exchanged rapidly with the atmosphere. Carbon enters the ocean mainly through the dissolution of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), and a part of it is converted into carbonate by marine organisms. Calcifying marine organisms include planktonic foraminifers that contribute to the marine carbon turnover by generating inorganic carbon production (CaCO₃ shells). Anthropogenic CO₂ acidifies the surface ocean, changes the carbonate chemistry and decreases the saturation state of carbonate minerals in sea water, thus affecting the biological precipitation of carbonate shells. Relative changes in average foraminiferal shell mass can be interpreted as variations in test thickness and the extent of calcification that subsequently impacts the global carbonate budgets. The response of calcifying marine organisms to elevated atmospheric pCO₂ is diverse and complex with studies reporting from reduced rates of net calcification to neutral receptivity or even increased calcification intensities. This diverse behavior implies that the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon may not be the dominant factor controlling the amount of carbonate shell masses. Here we provide further evidence that glacial/interglacial variations of planktonic foraminifera shell masses are invariant to atmospheric pCO₂. We identify that differences in shell weights of several planktonic foraminiferal species from narrow size intervals, over the most recent deglaciation (Termination I) vary systematically as a function of latitude. Past intervals of abruptly changing pCO₂ and temperatures, such as the terminations, can offer a glimpse into the response of marine calcifying plankton to changes in surface oceans. We have compiled all the available bibliographic data of planktonic foraminifera shell weights from restricted sieve fractions of different species from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and we find that for the same pCO₂ conditions planktonic foraminifera from equatorial regions may alter their shell mass only as little as 8.2%, while towards higher latitudes changes in shell mass reach up to 54% during the transition from the last glacial to interglacial conditions. We attribute this low variability in the shell mass of planktonic foraminifera from the equator to the stability of the physical oceanographic conditions that characterize the equatorial zone.

The Vistula River mouth is situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Gdańsk (Poland). Considering the average flow and draining area of the Vistula River, it is one of the largest rivers in the Baltic Sea catchment area. It is also one of the largest sources of terrigenous material supplied to the Baltic Sea. The particle size analysis of the material transported in suspension shows that it consists of fractions ranging in size between 1 and 600 μm. The silt fraction constitutes the biggest share (55%), while the medium and fine sands amount to 30%. Close to 15% of the material transported in suspension belongs to the clay fraction. During field research in April 2014, many parameters were measured at the stations in the Gulf of Gdansk. The variation in suspension characteristics and water parameters was determined with the LISST-25X sensor and CTD probe, respectively. The flow and current directions were assessed by means of ADCP. In the Vistula River mouth, the mean concentration of suspended matter in the surface layer (0–3 m) varied from 30 to 1 099 μL/L. The Sauter mean diameter of suspended sediment ranged from 44 to 172 μm, wherein the smallest and the biggest particle sizes were 22 μm and 360 μm, respectively. At a depth of 10 m, differences in mean diameter (36–54 μm) and concentration (16–47 μL/L) were much lower. The changes observed in these waters occurred over time, reflecting changes in the intensity of the Vistula River discharge. As distance from the river mouth increases, at the surface and at depth of 10 m, the average particle concentration and the mean particle diameter were lower. In deeper water layers (below the developing thermocline), the mean concentration of suspended sediment was clearly lower (2.5 μL/L), while the mean particle diameter was higher (32 μm). Different characteristics of water masses containing suspension were recorded in the marine waters, which are not directly influenced by the Vistula River freshwater inflow. In marine waters, the mean values of suspension concentration ranged from 1 to 2 μL/L, with relatively large particle sizes between 50 and 60 μm. As the distance from the Vistula River mouth increased, the influence of riverine waters on the particle size distribution and suspension concentration became increasingly less visible. The observed distributions of salinity, temperature and suspension concentration indicate that freshwater is spreading in the surface layer in a fan-shaped form. The spreading of suspension occurs along the dominant directions of the river water movement. Changes in the suspension concentration and particle size in the water column are caused by flocculation.

The submitted paper presents the results of the experiment aimed at quantifying the effect of diffusion on the sedimentation rate of soil microparticles of different fractions. The goal of the experiment was to specify the determination of the texture composition of soils. The textural composition of the soil gives basic information about its hydrophysical properties. Standard methods for determination of granulometric soil composition are based on sedimentation methods. Measuring errors occur in the measurement of the soil microparticle rate, which are usually made of clay particles. Their source is the effect of diffusion. In the settling process with the gradual formation of the colloidal dispersion system, the deposition rate decreases. The rate of sedimentation of the dispersion particles approaches the rate of the mean diffusion feed in the opposite direction. Gradually, the state of dynamic sedimentation equilibrium occurs. The dispersion ratio was in dispersed system formed by clay soil particles from the Senne site. The dispersed medium was distilled water. Grain analyzes were performed by a laser diffraction method on a Mastersizer 2000 from MALVERN Instruments. The soil microparticles' rates were measured on the basis of the time and the path of particles with diameter d (90). The output of the experiment is the diffusion coefficient, diffusion average feed and sedimentation rate for soil particles of different sizes. The results of the work show that with size of sedimented soil particles, the effect of diffusion increased. On this basis, it is possible to verify the lower limit of the results of grain size analyzes based on the sedimentation method. The results of the work show that the reduction of the size of the settled soil particles increases the effect of diffusion. On this basis, it is possible to quantify the lower limit of the results of grain size analyzes based on the sedimentation method and the particle size at which dynamic sedimentation equilibrium occurs.

In this study were used geomagnetic data recorded during last 5 years, from 2013 till present. The records were corrected for missing and wrong data induced by malfunction of the data acquisition system. The main purpose of the paper is to identify the magnetic field behaviour in relation with space weather, meteorological phenomenon including annual/diurnal temperature variation, local and regional seismic activity. The paper is focusing on geomagnetic anomalies detected on the recorded field at one magnetometer located near Vrancea seismogenic zone prior to Mw>4.5 crustal and intermediate depth earthquakes. During these 5 years of investigations one crustal earthquake and three subcrustal earthquakes with a moment magnitude Mw between 5.0 and 6.0, occurred in the Vrancea zone. All three intermediate depth events were accompanied by significant anomalies on Y axis (EW component) of local geomagnetic field measured at MLR observatory. The MLR magnetometer was outside the preparation zone of the crustal earthquake, located at 100km distance from the epicenter, so no anomaly was observed. In order to highlight the anomalies recorded at Muntele Rosu (MLR) seismological observatory, these data were compared with data from Surlari (SUA) observatory, located about 150 Km South-East outside the Vrancea seismogenic zone. Similarly, earthquakes with Mw between 4.5 and 5 are accompanied by same type but smaller amplitude anomalies, were the drop on Y axis was less than 10 nT instead of 20-30 nT as those occurred prior to earthquakes with Mw>5.0. The latter ones are harder to observe during the summer time when these anomalies are hidden by large diurnal variations. The anomaly duration extends from days to sometimes months, without correlation with the earthquake magnitude. To better distinguish the local/regional anomalies from global geomagnetic behaviour, both MLR and SUA datasets were also corelated with the geomagnetic indices from NOAA/Space Prediction Center. The presence of geomagnetic storms creates a specific type of anomalies that sometimes might hide the ones related to earthquakes. The geomagnetic measurements were also compared with temperature values recorded at MLR station both for avoiding wrong interpretation of instrument response related to temperature variations, and to highlight possible correlations of magnetic field behaviour with ambient temperature. The three medium sized intermediate earthquakes that have occurred in the studied time interval provided a good opportunity to investigate the link between the presence of anomalies on geomagnetic records at Muntele Rosu observatory and seismicity in Vrancea zone.

The construction foundation problem in complex conditions with specific types of soils (peat and organic sediment, sludge, soft clay, etc.) is relevant at the present time. Excessive moisture, low bearing capacity, high compressibility, and other negative qualities of these soils make the process of foundation more expensive and complicated. To improve the properties of granular soil can be applied explosive compaction (EC) technology, which has been used for more than 80 years, but mostly for the compaction of gravels, sands and silts. This paper documents the successful application of EC for the compaction of clay soils. To cause compaction, the sequential detonations were performed using explosives placed in boreholes. To investigate the efficiency of explosive compaction on cohesive clay soil, geophysical testing was performed. Applied geophysical testing methods were a Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and seismic down-hole, whose test results are shear wave velocities (V_s) in depth. The shear modulus (G_o) at small deformation, which is directly related to the V_s, were used to determine the degree of soil improvement. From a comparing of results of pre- and post-blast testing, the positive effects are evident.

Intra-Carpathian Region of Romania experienced strong earthquakes as it is mentioned in the national and international databases, e.g. November 26, 1829 (Ms = 6.4), October 10, 1834 (Ms = 6.3), January 26, 1916 (Ms = 6.4), July 12, 1991 (Mw = 5.7). The paper focuses on calibration and validation of MEEP method (Macroseismic Estimation of Earthquake Parameters, Musson & Jimenez, 2008) to provide a homogeneous and repeatable procedure for processing intensity data points (IDPs) which may supply the location and magnitude Mw of historical earthquakes occurred in the Intra-Carpathian Region of Romania and surroundings. The MEEP method is based on 1) grid-search technique for locating the epicentres and 2) the felt area approach to estimate the magnitude. It has the advantage to be used for small and moderate events. We used two high-quality datasets of earthquakes of the 20th century for which macroseismic data points (IDPs), instrumental moment magnitude (Mw) and instrumental epicentral coordinates are available, one for calibration and the other one for validation of the method. The main parameters used through MEEP algorithm were calibrated at regional scale using high-quality instrumental data: 1) crustal attenuation Q₃ = 435 (Q at f = 3 Hz, which is understood to be the limit of the human perception of seismic waves), 2) Kövesligethy's inelastic attenuation (∝ = 0.0065), 3) isoseismic spacing coefficient (k = 3.1) and 4) C = 2015, a constant generally related to tectonic regime. The MEEP method was successfully tested for events occurred within extra-Carpathian regions and the Pannonian Basin.

On 8^th of September 2017, an earthquake of magnitude Mw 8.1 was generated offshore Mexico, Chiapas area, at 04:49 UTC, with a depth of 72 km and the following coordinates: Latitude 15.02 N, Longitude 93.81 W, 98 km away from Pijijiapan (Mexico). The fault plane solution of the event was normal plane. Maximum tsunami waves of 1.1 m were measured at Salina Cruz sea level station, following the earthquake. Tsunami modelling simulations were accomplished using the earthquake's parameters (location, magnitude, depth) and moment tensor solutions given by 3 different agencies: United States Geological Survey (USGS), German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and Global Centroid Moment Tensor (GCMT). For every case studied, the affected locations, sea level estimates and maximum wave heights were computed. There are two software used for modelling, the Tsunami Analysis Tool (TAT), provided and developed by the Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy and TRIDEC Cloud, provided by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Potsdam, Germany. After analysing the modelling scenarios, a comparison between the results of the two software was accomplished, for the same earthquake parameters. The results show that the parameters of GCMT computed with TAT overestimate those computed with TRIDEC, of maximum 3.9 m wave height at Arista with TAT and 2.46 m with TRIDEC. For the GFZ parameters, the estimates give 3.5 m for Pasito de la Senora with TAT, compared to 1.64 m maximum waves at Puerto Madero with TRIDEC. For the USGS data set, the results are similar, maximum waves of 2.4 m at Pasito de la Senora with TAT, and 2.9 m at Puerto Madero with TRIDEC. The Salina Cruz station, where 1.1 m height waves were measured, gives results only for the simulations ran with TAT, with 1.0 m for the GFZ earthquake parameters, 0.6 m for USGS and 1.4 m for the GCMT parameters.

The paper presents the selected functionality of the GIS system prototype developed to support the tracking of seismic activity related to the mining activity of the copper ore underground mine. The system allows to perform spatiotemporal analyzes related to seismic activity, spatial mapping of seismic shocks as well as reporting of a set of statistics describing the nature of these events and their dependence on mining activity. The database design takes into account a number of factors affecting the appearance, course and intensity of seismic shocks. For this purpose, the identification of information needs in the field of monitoring of seismic events was carried out and the data sources were determined, the structure of the data stream was proposed, and methods for their integration and auto-validation were developed. The analytical module of the system focuses a number of analytical methods in the field of statistics and spatial analysis. The article presents an example of the functionality of the analytical module on the example of a selected mining plant.

Heat flow density measurements are difficult to obtain in Antarctica and Greenland due to climate and ice thickness in those regions. The works published about that subject shows that spatial distribution of the heat flux values is highly heterogeneous. Maximum and minimum values of heat flux vary with different authors and method used, but all of them say that East Antarctic is characterized by low heat flux values (45-85 mW m^-2) with the lowest values found especially in the central part. The values obtained in West Antarctic (65-180 mW m^-2) and in the Antarctic Peninsula (maximum of 170 mW m^-2). In the work whose data is used high values were obtained in the West Antarctic Rift system (maximum value of 130 mW m^-2). Some local geothermal anomalies have been reported such as Lake Wilhams (285 mW m^-2) or Siple Dome (69 mW m^-2). Elevated heat flux values are obtained in volcanic regions and in regions with relatively recent tectonic activity, in West Antarctic. The east Antarctic is characterized by low values, however the Coastal part of Queen Mary Land, the Lambert Rift and Victoria Land, show higher values, suggesting Cenozoic processes in the region, including volcanism or extension. Ice fusion occurs near the base of the ice sheet. In order to study these fact relations between heat flux, bed, thickness and ice altitude were studied. In regions with bottom of the ice below sea level ice melting of the ice occurs. The amount of ice obtained is under the measured value. The effect of sea water interacting with ice must be considered.

Temperature values alterations at the surface may be found in the ice, including alterations due to last glaciations must they are not the cause of ice melting.

In the extractive and transformation processing industry of ornamental rocks, the presence of discontinuities, grain size, porosity and textural anisotropies in the explored blocks is an economic risk factor. This study aims the identification and possible quantification of these elements. The existence of a low-cost, non-intrusive and fast inspection method for the evaluation of blocks would facilitate their use avoiding their wastage. For this purpose, two nondestructive methods ("P" Wave Ultrasonic Testing and the Ground Penetration Radar (GPR)) were tested on a limestone rock block and compared the models obtained. The portable ultrasound equipment used was a Proceq Pundit Lab (Portable Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Digital Indicating Tester) which is based on the pulse rate method with 54 KHz to provide information about the uniformity, cavities, cracks and defects of the material concerned by the measurement of the ultrasonic wave time and the measurement of the pulse rate. The equipment used for the GPR data acquisition was a PULSEEKKO GPR (SENSORS & SOFTWARE), with a system of two bistatic antennas (transmitter and receiver) with a frequency of 1 GHz, using the reflection method with a common offset and with an antenna separation of 0,15 meters [m]. To make a comparison of the results valid and representative, both tests were performed with 0,10 m spacing between measurements, according to a pre-defined and common grid. In the case of the ultrasonic test, velocity color maps were created based on the results of the measurements, and through this colors differences it was possible to detect and locate some of the individual and visible fractures, but also not visible fractures on the surface of the tested face. By increasing the distance between transducers, the measurement depth also increases, creating maps of the same face at different depths. This method allows us to create several GPR profiles (radargrams) were obtained because of the processing, and were used to create 2, 2,5 and 3D models to identify the existing structures, their vertical and horizontal limits and spatial relationships between them.

The multichannel seismic survey consists of a geophysical technique of indirect quantification, whose principles are based on the acoustic properties of the seismic waves produced locally. The current study deals with seismic refraction, whose main advantages are avoidance of any environmental impact during the exploration, low cost and a fast way to present the results. The objective of the technique is to show acoustic characteristics of the geological environment, such as the propagation velocity of the P wave allowing the estimation of the type of rock that constitutes the subsoil. The layers depths determination depends on velocities estimated in the data analysis. The information provided by the seismic survey is used to determine the degree of vulnerability of local groundwater reserves. The region of interest of this study is the central depression of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This region consists of one of the recharge areas of the Guarani Aquifer System. This system consists of a set of geological formations rich in sand and poor in clay, which results in a kind of compartmentalized sponge with potential to accumulate groundwater, covered by impermeable rock. Profiles analyzed, in the region of the municipality of Santa Cruz do Sul suggest the presence of basalt, argillite and sandstone at approximately 10 meters depth. These conditions indicate a vulnerability of the aquifer which varies laterally. Therefore, some regions showed to be less protected than others, requiring more attention on the possibility of propagation of some contaminant.

The focus of this paper is the quality evaluation of the relative height movement kinematic model of the Earth's crust that covers the territory of the Republic of Croatia. This model offers necessary data for the calculation of relative vertical displacements and moving speed of Earth's crust discrete points. Consequentially it can be used for reductions in direct levelling measurements from their surveying epoch to another chosen epoch by the elimination of relative height movement effects. As the quality of the model is not yet unambiguously analysed and determined this paper offers kinematic model quality analysis on the northern part of the Croatian territory. In this area, an indirect quality assessment method is used based on levelling measurements accuracy investigation. The measurements accuracy is determined in levelling networks of the 2^nd order that almost completely cover the northern part of Croatia. Original levelling measurements from precise levelling network (2^nd order state networks) are corrected for the systematic effect of benchmark's relative height movements and reduced from their original survey epochs to the mean epoch of so-called Second High Accuracy Levelling Network (1^st order state network). Precise levelling network is investigated simultaneously at the level of original and reduced measurements, comparing "a prior" and "a posterior" measurements accuracy criteria. The result suggests more or less successful elimination of the systematic effect of crustal relative height movements from the levelling measurements. Furthermore, the results confirm the hypothesis that the kinematic model can be reliably used for the determination of regional relative height changes and regional trends in crustal movements within the centimetre level of accuracy.

The current Croatian height reference system (HVRS71) has been established using the so-called Second High Accuracy Levelling Network (IINVT) of the former Yugoslavia. This network survey was realised from 1970 to 1973. Today almost 50 years later, it is quite clear that a renewal of the Croatian height reference system is necessary. The survey and design of a new fundamental levelling network for the Republic of Croatia is an expected step. In Croatian particular case there is a significantly limiting key factor for the levelling network design. That limiting factor derives from the fact that the size and the specific shape of the Croatian territory in comparison with the standards of realization of levelling networks have a negative correlation. Considering the aforementioned facts, a careful and comprehensive analysis was conducted. As a basis for the analysis of this issue, a simulation of the new Croatian height reference system realisation was performed. The simulation is based on the grounds of IINVT network observations which had originally been used to create the current official height reference system of the Republic of Croatia, but with a modification of its geometrical configuration. In accordance with the need for continuous monitoring of height displacements of the same benchmarks that had been observed previously (the recent crustal movements issue), the principle of preserving as big as possible segment of the IINVT network configuration on the Croatian territory had been retained. One of the fundamental elements of the height reference system quality certainly is the quality of the absolute benchmark height positioning. In this paper it is shown how radical change of network configuration due to the adjustments to the specific shape of the Croatian territory affects the accuracy of the absolute benchmark height positioning.

According to the existing international requirements, construction of an underground research laboratory (UGRL) that allows to obtain parameters of a host rock mass is a mandatory initial stage when siting a deep geological repository (DGR) for radioactive waste (RAW). The main idea of the basic international and Russian documents regulating the safety of handling high-level radioactive waste is that geological medium is the main barrier to the spread of radionuclides. The results of the world's leading research in this area are directly related to the development of methods, algorithms and software modules for predicting the stability of a structural tectonic block containing waste material of an underground HLWR repository and located in the field of action of time-varying and spatially varying tectonic stress fields as well as the heat field from HLRW containers. The results of modeling and implementation of the geodynamic monitoring system based on the use of GPS/GLONASS satellite systems will be used as the basis for the design development of «Rosatom» organizations for the construction of URL, which is created in accordance with IAEA requirements to justify the suitability of the Nizhnekansky massif for underground isolation of radioactive waste. Below we consider the influence of the geodynamic regime of the territory the possible destruction of the rock at different hierarchical levels.

According to studies carried out by the authors, the development of agricultural production space in the analyzed area resulted in a highly defective spatial structure of agricultural land. The resulting defective spatial structure must be urgently rearranged in line with the achievements of the 21st century. However, land consolidation and exchange cannot be performed in such an extensive area, primarily for economic reasons. In connection with this fact, a hierarchy of needs for land consolidation and exchange works and their urgency must be established using objective methods of assessment. Therefore, this paper aims to determine the needs for land consolidation and exchange in the villages of the gmina of Drzewica, in the poviat of Opoczno, Łódź voivodeship. In administrative terms, the analyzed gmina consists of 17 villages and Drzewica – a town with poviat rights that was not included in the study. The total area covered by the study is 10600.1851 ha. The analyses were based on 24 features describing each of the villages, split into 4 thematic groups. First of the groups (general features) includes the total area of the village, total number of plots, number of inhabitants, average area of plots owned by private owners in respective precincts. The second group, referring to private land, comprises features connected with land owned by private farmers, including: number of registration units in the group of farms, number of plots and average area of plots in those units. The third group is productivity ratios for cropland and grassland. Group four comprises plots without access to roads where the number and area of real properties without access to roads was determined. In the last group the ratios of fragmentation, their average value and percentage of the area of plots covered by orchards and forestland were determined along with the average value of and the synthetic elongation ratio for plots within the precinct. The used features describe the spatial structure of the analyzed villages in detail. The rankings of urgency of land consolidation and exchange works for respective villages were developed using the zero unitarization method and Hellwig's method. Both, for Hellwig's calculations and the zero unitarization method the values of synthetic measures fall within the range [0;1]. These rankings were created by means of synthetic measures of the urgency of consolidation. The measures can be used to classify objects according to the size of multi-theme and multi-feature phenomenon, that is, the analyzed spatial structure of land in the presented community (gmina).

In EU member states the restructuring of rural areas based on consolidation is a common measure, thus Poland's membership of the EU provided an opportunity for developing such zones through the financial support of the measures. The development of agriculture in Poland and its production capacity is much differentiated in terms of space. One of the reasons for such a situation is the process of long-term transformations of agricultural management in areas with different social and economic situation continuing for many years. The objective of land consolidation works is creating more favourable management conditions in agriculture and forestry by improving the territorial structure of farms, forests and forestland, reasonable configuration of land, aligning the limits of real properties with the irrigation and drainage system, roads and terrain. The studies were carried out in the rural community (gmina of Poświętne), situated in Opoczno poviat in Central Poland, which consisted of 17 villages covering a total area of 14081.0 ha. For the purposes of creating the ranking of urgency of the land consolidation and exchange works in the community (gmina) of Poświętne, 26 most significant features characterizing respective villages were selected. Those features were calculated based on data obtained from the register of land and buildings maintained by the Poviat Administration in Opoczno. The ranking was created using the zero unitarization method. This method allows standardizing diagnostic variables by testing the range of the characteristic. Standardized measures fall within the range <0;1>. The results can be interpreted as an average of optimum values achieved by each of the objects. Thus, the higher the synthetic measure, the higher position of the object in the ranking being created. This paper is a continuation of surveys during which the authors studied the impact of single features on the position of respective villages in the ranking. This paper aimed to analyze the impact of features on the ranking of urgency of land consolidation works by leaving out 2 or 3 features which described the analyzed villages and checking their impact on the results of the ranking of urgency of land consolidation and exchange works in respective villages within the analyzed community.

The policy of the European Union up until 2020 to be pursued in rural areas is oriented at diversifying their functions. In EU member states, including Poland, the spatial structure of rural areas is transformed by means of the land consolidation process. The basic definition and purpose of consolidation is given in the Act of 26 March 1982 on consolidation and exchange of land where consolidation was defined as a rural management procedure aiming at transformation of the spatial arrangement of rural land in order to create more favourable management conditions by improving the territorial structure of farms, reasonable configuration of land, and aligning the limits of real properties with the system of water irrigation structures, roads and terrain. Undertaking consolidation works which contribute to improving the conditions of agricultural production in all the villages of the analyzed community (gmina) simultaneously is impossible, mostly for economic reasons but also with regard to technical and social problems. Works aiming to improve unfavourable conditions should be carried out successively in villages where they are most urgent. For the needs of analysing the urgency of consolidation works, multidimensional statistical methods can be applied. This publication attempts to apply TOPSIS – a linear ordering method. The idea behind TOPSIS is determining the distance of the analyzed objects from the ideal and antiideal solution. The final result of the analysis is a synthetic measure which creates the ranking of the analyzed objects. The best object is the one closest to the ideal solution and at the same time farthest from the anti-ideal solution. A number of analyses regarding the spatial structure of the analyzed gmina were necessary for the ranking purposes. The study area includes 14 villages of the gmina of Rusinów with a registered surface area of 8279.1709 ha, which accounts for 10.3% of the overall area of the poviat of Przysucha.

This paper compares the indicators of spatial development for the road network of Croatia towards chosen countries in Europe and on a county level in Croatia. It also shows the number of traffic accidents per counties and links it with indicators of spatial development. The paper presents the results of the research of spatial distribution of traffic accidents in Croatia by counties. An example of a hazardous site identification on the A6 motorway is provided by the accident data report. All the comparisons and analyzes are presented graphically in the form of charts and cartography-related views in the MapViewer 7 program. From the results it can be seen that there are significant differences between the counties and it is often the case that similar values for the counties derived from similar level of development and similar number of population. From the results it is concluded that the number of traffic accidents is more dependent on the population than the length of the road network in relation to the surface of the county. To invest in remediation of hazardous sites, it is necessary to consider more factors than repeated traffic accidents.

By using inertial sensors embedded in modern telephones, such as a three-axis accelerometer and a gyroscope, it is possible to determine the position of the user in all conditions, regardless of the place, time or surrounding terrain obstacles. For this purpose, it is necessary to determine the starting coordinates, speed and orientation of the device. The system determining the position of the user on the basis of indications of inertial sensors is called the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and is a part of dead reckoning navigation. The accuracy of the position determined in this way depends mainly on the class, stability and quality of the sensors used. The accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers used in cell phones are made in the MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) technology, which has been developing dynamically since the end of the 20th century. Sensors, despite their miniature dimensions and weight, are cheap in production and more and more accurate. The article attempts to determine the accuracy and usefulness of popular mobile phones in navigation using the IMU (Inertial Measerument Unit) by determining the coordinates of the user's route. A special script in the Matlab environment was written for comparison analyses of IMU route with the indications from the GNSS receiver. It should be noted that positions calculated on the basis of data from IMU devices were not integrated with the GNSS system in any way. In the practical part, two modern cell phones operating under the Android system, i.e. Sony Xperia M2 Aqua and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 were used to create an inertial navigation system. The measurement was carried out simultaneously with two telephones in three different scenarios. Based on data collected using sensors (accelerometers and gyroscope), subsequent user positions in the geocentric coordinates were determined using the Matlab script. The conducted research has shown to what extent a modern mobile phone can be used to create an inertial navigation system. The achieved results are presented, analysed and discussed.

The paper presents the results of vertical trajectory determination called "heave" of Institute of Geodesy, Faculty of Geodesy, Geospatial and Civil Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1 str., 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland the hydrographic vessel using Robotized Total Station (RTS). A reference water level for bathymetric measurements, the most frequently adopted in surveys on small areas, is not a flat horizontal surface. The water level changes significantly over time and distance. For this reason, hydroacoustic survey is performed on an unstable floating platform. During hydrographic sounding raw data had to be brought to the common water level. To reach the final reduced depth measurements, it is necessary to obtain the precise vertical position of the platform. Usually roll, pitch and heave vessel motion effects are defined by the Inertial Measurements Unit (IMU) sensors. Unfortunately, the slow rise of water level is difficult to measure by the hydrographic inertial system. For this reason, the author decided to use a geodetic RTS measurement system. A modern robotized instrument has been adopted for precise hydroacoustic measurements carried out in situation when the water level was changing slightly over time. The study describes an experiment conducted on Gdansk Bay in Poland, where the changing vessel height was determined with the use of RTS, Real Time Network (RTN) and Motion Reference Unit (MRU) systems. The final results show that RTS provides sub-centimetre determination of vertical vessel motion. Robotized Total Station proved to be very useful and essential in engineering inland and coastal bathymetric measurements.

The developed, innovative method of estimating the impact of motorway on agricultural land allows determination of all the losses associated with the directions of this impact. The basis for the determination of losses is the analysis of variability in land use and the quality classes and location of access roads to the land along the axis of the planned motorway. The approved measure of the multidirectional impact of the motorway on agricultural land is a change in the value of land, which is determined with taking into account the differences of their suitability for agricultural production. The developed method of determining the impact of motorway on agricultural land was presented on the example of A4 motorway section between Jaźwiny and Góra Motyczna. The existing section of motorway was assessed and then for the same section, the calculations were made again, but with an alternative location of the motorway overpasses (flyovers). In the case of the existing section, the construction of one kilometer of the section of motorway under consideration will result in a reduction in the value of agricultural land of 2119 cereal units. Acquisition of land for the construction of the motorway and its negative impact cover about 78% of the total reduction in value of agricultural land. The remaining 22% of the land value reduction is related to the increase in transport and the deterioration of the plots layout. On the other hand, in the case of the section with alternative arrangement of overpasses, the value of agricultural land is reduced of 2088 cereal units. Acquisition of land under construction and under motorway's toxic impact will be equal 79%, while the combined effect of transport growth and deterioration of the layout makes 21%.

The method of estimating the impact of the motorway on agricultural land presented in this study allows to determine all losses related to the directions of this impact. The simplified method of assessing the motorway's impact on agricultural land is presented on the example of the A4 motorway section running through the villages of Wolica Piaskowa and Czarna Sędziszowska with a length of about 6.364 km. These are areas located in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The construction of one kilometer of the motorway section under consideration will result in a reduction in the value of agricultural land amounting to 867 cereal units. Taking over the land for the motorway construction and its negative impact covers about 76% of the total loss of value of agricultural land. The remaining 24% of the loss in value of land is related to the increase in transport and the deterioration of the plots layout.

The study aims to show the possibility of using terrestrial laser scanning and unmanned aircraft as a tool for obtaining high resolution photogrammetric material in order to develop colourful, metric orthoplans and 3D models of an architectural object. The object of the study was the church dedicated to Saint. Bartholomew the Apostle in Mogila and the chapel of St. Malgorzata at Salwator in Krakow. Field activities of the church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle in Mogila covered the execution of the raid by means of the unmanned aerial vehicle DJI Phantom 4 Pro, acquisition of ground-based photos with a non-metric Nikon D3100 camera, and the measurement of photopoints with an electronic total station. UAV was manually moved to a height of 20m in relation to the roof of the church, just above the turret (the turret located above the intersection of the transept with the nave). Then, the radius was specified by moving 10m away from the edge of the subject. After setting the minimum orbital speed (to avoid blurring the images), the object was automatically looped. In this mode, 76 images were recorded around the whole object. In the next stage the flight took place by hand. At a height of 10 m from the ground, 32 photos of the southern and eastern walls and a part of the western wall were made from a distance of approx. 15 m from the façade. After completing the BSP raid, the SLR was started. Obtained in this way, 120 photos with a longitudinal base of approx. 3.30 m (coverage above 70%). The camera allowed to reach places inaccessible to the UAV and take photos of the lowest parts of the facade, maintaining an angle close to the straight one in relation to the vertical plane. The last of the planned field activities was the measurement of the photopoints on the geodetic network for the purpose of later giving the object georeference and the right scale, as well as optimizing the position of the camera and orientation of the photos. The last, final stage of the work was the creation of orthophotoplanes for four elevations. The summary discusses the results of the work and assessed the capabilities of unmanned ships as part of the creation of orthophotoplanes and the creation of 3D models. The measurement of the object was made of 7 sites providing a common area coverage. In addition, 8 points were distributed evenly around the measured chapel indicative in the form of matte, glass balls placed on the ground, necessary in the process of clouding points from individual positions. The number of posts and balls was dictated by the nature of the measured object and the need to obtain as few dead zones as possible. Despite the efforts, it was impossible to avoid the appearance of dead zones, which are located in the place of setting up the lighthouse on the dome of the chapel. An additional obstacle turned out to be the trees growing in the vicinity of the chapel, which partially covered with its walls the walls of the building. The effect of field work was to obtain 7 images of point clouds and 8 images of landmarks. After cleaning individual images, the cloud was created and the 3D image of the object was obtained and an average error of 3 mm was obtained. The final effect of cleaning and depositing a point cloud was the three-dimensional shape of the object, which served the last stage of the work, which was modeling. Due to the conditions in the area, the cloud received had some dead zones, including the one at the connection of the lighthouse with the dome. After completing the orientation of the point cloud, the final stage of this study was to create a 3D model of the chapel.

The EGNOS satellite system was created, inter alia, to support air operations. In May 2016, the first LPV-200 landing approach in Europe was implemented at the Paris airport. The article presents the results of research on the quality of the EGNOS system, carried out in various places in Poland. Data obtained in real time and in post-processing mode were used for analyses. 24-hour observational data recorded in 2015 using the Polish TPI NETpro network were used. Research includes a period of low and high ionospheric activity. All data used in the work has been developed for APV-1 and LPV-200 applications. The algorithms described in the documentation characterizing the possibilities of using satellite systems in aviation were used in the work. The calculations were performed in the professional PEGASUS software, which is intended for testing the GPS / SBAS positioning quality in Europe. It was also necessary to use proprietary software - PP_SBAS_Analyzer. Summing up the results of research carried out at selected TPI NETpro network points located in Poland, it can be concluded that the quality of GPS / EGNOS positioning depends on the location of the observation. The basis for conducting a more thorough analysis should be weak results obtained for the territory of Poland in the extreme south, where, according to the results of experiments, it is not possible to implement procedures compatible with APV. Noteworthy are the significantly different results of the positioning quality test at some points located only about 100 km apart. Therefore, prior to the application of the EGNOS system in aviation, it seems necessary to conduct local monitoring of the system's operation. The results of the conducted research prove that the quality of positioning using the EGNOS system has significantly improved in recent years and can meet the requirements of satellite air navigation in accordance with APV-1 and even LPV-200.

The paper describes possibilities of the relative new technique – ground based radar interferometry for precise determining of the effect of temperature changes on vertical deflections of metal bridge structures.

The ground based radar interferometry method is used in practice, among other things, for the quick contactless determination of vertical deflections of metallic railway bridge structures. The precision in deflection determination is up to 0.01 mm in real time. At the same time, it is also possible to capture and analyze the oscillation frequencies of the monitored object with a maximum frequency of up to 50 Hz. Deflections are determined at multiple points of the object at the same time, for example on individual cross beams. This allows to obtain both general and detailed information about the behaviour of the structure under its dynamic load and to monitor the impact of vehicle passages or their groups.

Moreover, the ground based radar interferometry method is not sensitive to temperature changes. It can therefore to be used successfully to determine the effect of temperature changes on deflections and deformations of metallic objects, such as bridge structures. The influence of temperature changes is of two kinds. First, a direct effect on the very structure causes deformations due to thermal expansion of the metallic material. Furthermore, it is the effect on the character of the dynamic deformations caused by load changes - the transit of vehicles. This character varies with temperature, as demonstrated by experimental measurement in practice.

Practical examples from practice documented by experimental measurements are given in the article. For example, at a 75m long metal bridge over a six-hour period with a temperature change of 25°C, a vertical deflection - lifting the bridge deck was about 9.5mm due to the thermal expansion of the material. There has been also a change in the nature of the dynamic deflections caused by train passes. At low night temperatures (about 14°C), deflections were much smoother than at high afternoon temperatures (about 39°C).

The results of the research included in the study concern the analysis of the spatial structure of agricultural land, belonging to non-resident owners for the object in the southwestern Poland. The basic surface element adopted for the research was the continuous part of the registry parcel, covered by a one form of use. The specialized computer programs were used for the research and made it possible to obtain and process the necessary information contained in the land and building registry documentation maintained in a digital system. The adopted technology has allowed obtaining dozens of spatial configuration features of the surveyed parcels, which in the next stage were the subject to detailed research. The analysis covered eight basic features of the parcels layout, the first four of which determine the spatial parameters of the parcel, two further features concern the estimated cultivation costs dependent on its layout and the last two describe the location of the parcel in the village and in the farm. The obtained result gave the basis for finding positive and negative sides of the examined fragments in the existing land system, pointing to the disadvantages and limitations, resulting from changes made over the years.

The article describes the results of research focused on the analysis of tourism accessibility and attractiveness of selected objects of the former construction and mining works, located in Lower Silesia. 18 objects were selected for the research. Based on the literature review, 12 criteria have been defined; they have an impact on increasing the tourist attractiveness of the object. These are natural qualities, cultural attractions, green areas, road infrastructure, railway infrastructure, airport infrastructure, bus communication, accommodation facilities, catering base, price of visiting the object, opening hours of the object and object promotion. For these criteria, a point scale was developed to determine the degree of importance of a given criterion. For the first 9 criteria, a multi-criteria evaluation of the attractiveness of objects using two methods was carried out: weighted sum method taking into account the weightings of the AHP criteria and Map Algebra without taking into account the criteria weights. The resultant cell values of the resulting raster were classified as imaging areas: low (class IV), average (class III), good (class II) and very good (class I) tourist attractiveness. Comparing the results obtained in two methods, the classification of 15 objects in the same classes was obtained. Taking into account the inclusion of weights for individual criteria, the results obtained from the weighted sum method were selected for further analyses. In the final analysis of tourist attractiveness of objects of the former construction and mining works, the classification of objects according to the other three criteria was also taken into account, adding up the points for each object. Finally, the obtained results of the analyses and the attractiveness of objects of the former construction and mining works were combined. The results of analyses might be helpful for tourists to choose tourist facilities for sightseeing.

Techniques like remote sensing and GIS are nowadays applied to evaluate erosion risk. The real use of GIS comes from the ability to integrate spatial information as well as statistical and analytical processes to derive spatial patterns not readily apparent to the observer. Various methods/models have been developed to assess erosion intensity, soil loss, production of erosive material, sediment transport etc. The Erosion Potential Method (EPM) is the most used method for erosion risk assessment and development of erosion maps for Western and Central Balkan countries. The main aim of this project is to construct a GIS overlay model with the use of some basic GIS analytical functions according to the EPM. The study area covers two regions with different geomorphologic conditions. Significant erosion processes as well as sedimentation processes are visible on the field, especially intense erosion, as gullies, landslides, rock falls and talus cones which are not taken into consideration with other more commonly used methods in Europe. EPM will be employed in the GIS environment for soil loss estimation in m³/km²/yr as initially imposed by this method, and later data will be converted in t/ha/yr as imposed by the more commonly used methods in Europe, which will consequently give an idea about the applicability of the EPM model in different geomorphologic conditions to obtain compatible and comparable results with the results obtained from other methods.

Effective realisation of both land and sea transport has always required the determination of safe and fast routes. In the era of technological progress and modern technologies, the classic methods of navigation and paper maps have been practically replaced by satellite positioning and marine electronic maps. The degree of occurring changes is evident in the widespread use of mobile phones and tablets in car navigation and recreation. Among the determined geolocation data in these fields, only the ellipsoidal longitude and latitude of the receiver are most commonly used. Knowledge of these coordinates is sufficient to present the position on the maps available online or offline. The third of the coordinates, ellipsoidal height, finds particular application in some areas of recreation, such as mountain climbing or cycling to present the differences in elevation along the track. However, the ellipsoidal heights related to the reference ellipsoid, excluding some regions of the Earth, are not identical to the normal heights used widely in many European countries. The conversion of ellipsoidal heights into normal heights takes place through the use of geopotential models that are currently commonly implemented in the GNSS modules of smartphones. Geopotential models, which are discrete sets of quasigeoid spacing values from the reference ellipsoid, allow interpolation of the local undulation value added later on to the determined ellipsoidal height of the receiver. The publication will present the results of the conducted comparative analysis of geopotential models of selected telephones with the EGM2008 model developed by The National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency (NGA). The analysis will concern the results of measurements carried out in selected regions of Poland. The cohesion of both geopotential models will be shown, which directly translates into the correctness of the heights computed by the phone receiver. The conducted research proves the occurrence of significant distortions in the calculated values of undulations. The examined issue, in the perspective of the rapid development of personal navigation and the increasing accuracy of the receivers of mobile phones, is an important factor affecting the credibility of the positioning results.

The main purpose of the research is to achieve a fully automated technique for calculation of new trails in the mountain areas. The main idea is to provide the user with a possibility to move around the area regardless of the existing routes, which can make the user independent of using trails. Such a concept is nowadays getting a lot of attention due to the growing need for revitalisation and enabling new areas to be used for tourism and educational purposes. Moreover, the proposed solution can become a useful tool for emergency services, foresters or park employees. The main project assumption was to create a tool able to find a new path between two locations given a set of input parameters provided by the user. The new path had to be distinct from any existing paths in the area. The algorithm was designed to be a solution for path routing in poorly recognised areas or within big acreage as it can take a long time to explore the area in enough detail manually create a plan of the new path. The result of the project is the new ArcMap toolbox, built with a help of spatial analysis tools of the ArcGIS platform. The project uses GIS methods, taking advantage of remote sensing, spatial analyses and Python scripting. This makes it possible to create an automatic tool that is able to process various data in a relatively short time (comparing to manual work on planning new paths). As the end result algorithm generates a map with least cost path, which after conversion to GPX file is ready to use with supporting devices, e.g. smartphones. The project has been verified in the surroundings of Gorczański National Park in southern Poland. Performed tests allowed to find optimal settings and proved that an algorithm works correctly.

Surveying techniques such as Terrestrial Laser Scanner have recently been used to measure surface changes via 3D point cloud (PC) comparison. Since there are no signalized points when using laser scanners and no identical points between two epochs, judging an object change detection can only be based on areal methods. A surface based analysis is able to detect changes that are unknown and spread along the whole surface. Existing methods for point cloud comparison and the source of uncertainties are reviewed in the first part of the paper. Current comparison methods are based on a closest point distance or require at least one of the point cloud to be meshed. Better results can be achieved with using Least Square Adjustment of polynomial surfaces (planes and quadric height functions) applied on point cloud data. Examples for change detection based on measurements obtained from terrestrial laser scanning for a double-arc object are given. Two areal methods for comparing two point clouds are used and the obtained results are analyzed.

The main objectives of this work are to map and characterize network of likely fractures to develop major deposits carbonated in the region. It is a contribution to a better knowledge of the geometry of existing surface fractures networks and their extension in subsurface. For this it appeals to the tool of remote sensing and seismic. Using remote sensing data, our study enabled us to draw up a card lineament, along with tectonic analysis, where we could list 409 lineaments divided into 9 classes according to their directions, among which: the main directions of the NW/SE fracturing are: H (N1300-N1500), G (N1100-N1300) and F (N900-N1100). These three classes are in agreement with the major flaws of the region, which are: the fault of Biskra-Outaya, Ouinet-Morsott-Tébessa and the dextrose form. Of after the deferential work carried out on the South East Constantine area, and the results obtained by the seismic reflection, as well as the well data, summarizes our reservoirs are characterized by a mainly low to medium porosity and low permeability, these tanks are carbonated, and are affected by the majority of vulnerabilities detected on the surface, but these do not contribute to the improvement of the Petrophysical characteristics This can be reported to the clogging of the cracks.

Modern laser scanning methods and photogrammetric techniques provide tools for rapid data acquisition and semi-automated 3D scene construction. The common access to measuring sensors allow building digital representation of scanned objects relatively easy. This enables the construction of photorealistic building models and complex GIS/BIM models.

Recently, increasing number of government departments and local councils trying to use 3D models as part of their planning, development, promotion strategy can be observed. To date, there is no universal, low-cost methodology that will allow visualizing changes of building facades using the Internet. The article presents a study which explored the possibilities of building a web application to visualize the changes in the buildings with the use of 3D models. It allows to integrate current three-dimensional models with those based on historical data. An interactive web application presenting the spatio-temporal changes of buildings in two study areas was presented (campus of the University of Warmia and Mazury and the Old Town of Olsztyn). The proposed architecture is low-cost and easy to implement. The content displayed on the map is determined by the timeline slider, which allows presenting changes in the building facades over time. Each building has its own attributes, some of which also have one or more 3D models. In the end, the potential stages of the system's development were presented, including the possibility of participating volunteers in the process of obtaining historical data and using the Augmented Reality to present 3D models of the buildings directly in the field.

The economic development of the state is to a large extent dependent on the consciousness and knowledge of the society. It is in the government's interest to expand this awareness and knowledge through the administration. Modern computer technologies, the Internet and the development of information transfer and making available technologies create new opportunities for popularisation of the knowledge through e-administration. In the European Union countries, general rules for the development of the spatial information infrastructure have been defined in the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council INSPIRE. The article presents the adjustment of the Polish spatial information infrastructure to the European Union regulations, principles of building an information society, websites providing geo-spatial data, implementation projects in this area and criteria for assessing the level of maturity of this type of services. The article also presents the possibilities of use of these data for commercial purposes and scientific research and the benefits to society obtained through the making these data available.

The Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine is one of three underground copper ore mines in Poland. These three mines belong to KGHM Polish Copper JSC, excavating one of the largest copper ore deposits in the world. The deposit is situated in the south-western part of Poland in the Lower Silesia province. Due to the specific and difficult geological-and-mining conditions in the three mines, seismic events occur which often result in an excavation serious damage defined as the rock-burst or elastic recovery. Such dynamic phenomena have been occurring since 1972 and have posed the most dangerous natural threats in underground workings. Therefore, the mining technology has to take the account of seismic hazard prevention. Numerous preventive measures adjusted to the conditions prevailing in the given operating field have to be applied so that the hazards can be mitigated, fought or limited. The appropriate choice of prevention activities must be preceded by measurements and observations, which constitute different methods for identifying, predicting and assessing the condition of the rock mass as well as for evaluating the protection effectiveness. In the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine the rock-burst prevention involves: assessment of rock mass state and active, technological, and organizational-technical methods for combating the hazard. The active prevention consists in blasting works which provoke the rock mass to distress itself and thus to reduce its capability to accumulate elastic energy. The technological prevention embraces yielding the edges of the walls and pillars in the place of development, the extraction of the deposit with a wide opening of the front and the adjustment of the size of the technological pillar to the local geological and mining conditions. The organizational-technical measures introduce after-blasting waiting time and high hazard zones where the number of employees should be reduced. The influence of changes and improvements in the prevention activities on the seismic hazard was analysed and determined. The effectiveness of prevention methods was assessed in connection with their modifications, which concerned certain elements of active methods, the pillar size changes and alterations in the frequency of rock mass observations. Most of these modifications resulted from the operational progress and had a little impact on the seismic activity. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of such alterations was calculated. The research was carried out for one mining division in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine over the period of 2013-2015 years. The increase in the effectiveness of seismic/rock-burst prevention in most cases resulted in reduction of seismic activity.

Previously made evaluations show confinement of fire coal waste dumps to geodynamically dangerous zones which in this work are considered as borders of active blocks of the earth crust. According to the hypothesis under development, when disposing the dumps in geodynamically dangerous zones (GDZ), which have a high penetrating, aerodynamic relation of the dumps with the environment occurs, making the dumps firing possible. Firing of the dumps inflicts environmental, social and material damage. This research is aimed to study possible mechanism of gas mass transfer through GDZ into the body of dump on the base of computer modeling of aerodynamic processes. A relevant geometry model is developed, borderline conditions are proven and modeling of aerodynamic process is shown in the work. Taking into account actual data on location and characteristics of firing dumps of a region of Eastern Donbas (Rostov region, Russia) calculation are performed by means of ANSYS software. A dump located in GDZ is modeled. The GDZ is set in the model as a highly penetrating linear zone in the rock, which has a deep emplacement. The GDZ crosses mine fields and has an expression in relief of the Earth surface. Temperature of the rock within the dump may reach 420 degrees Centigrade. Petrophysical characteristics are taken into account in the model (porousness and permeability) of its main structural elements, dimensions of the dump, width of GDZ, difference of relief heights, depth of mine workings location under the dump. The results of the modeling show influence of the dump temperature, petrophysical characteristics of the model structural elements, depth of the mine openings location on aerodynamic processes within the dump mass. Operability of the model at the preset border conditions allows to deeply argue the hypothesis of the air intake into the dump body with consideration of the local geodynamics. According to the results obtained, geodynamic conditions of mining area where coal waste dumps are disposed, may be and are an important factor, which has an effect on creation conditions for spontaneous combustion of dumps and its further impact on environment.

In China, the method of geodynamic zoning had three periods of its development: "formation", "development", and "innovation". At the first stage, a significant preparatory work was performed, and the investigations were carried out to identify the geodynamic hazard zones at the Beipiao coal deposit field. At the second stage, models were created linking the block structures of the crustal tectonic plates and coal minefields, the work was continued on the geodynamic zoning of deposit fields deemed being of hazardous rock bumps occurrence. At the third stage, a program was developed for calculating the stress state of the rock massif, taking into account the data on geodynamic zoning. A model of multifactorial recognition of hazardous sections of minefields by sudden outbursts and rock bursts has been developed, and the corresponding research has carried out at the coal deposit fields. Investigations of the connection between the energy of a rock burst and the size of the massif area involved in this process have been carried out, followed by the creation of the corresponding model. The effectiveness of the method of recognizing areas of an increased geodynamic hazard was provided during the work using examples of particular mines. For the Yue Jin minefield, outburst's hazardous, threatened, and non-hazardous areas have been identified. For the Jingxi minefield, rockburst's hazardous, threatened, and non-hazardous areas have been identified. It is recommended to apply preventive measures based on the results of the forecast being conducted to improve the geodynamic safety in mining.

Nowadays, anthropogenic seismicity during mining operations is actual in many countries around the world. Strong rockbursts and anthropogenic earthquakes cause not only large material damage but also social and environmental impact. At that, the major geodynamic events and sudden seismic activity remain statistically rare events that makes it difficult to study these phenomena and to find out regularities. Uniqueness of their occurrence conditions and, often, inaccessibility of information contribute to such state of affairs. At that, rockbursts were known since the 19th century and information on conditions of their occurrence is available in published papers and special catalogues. It seems that use in summarizing and analysis of the data on strong rockbursts occurred in the past at the deposits worldwide could contribute to a better understanding of a nature and mechanisms of anthropogenic earthquakes which take place today. In this connection, a problem on the rockbursts data re-using for search of the anthropogenic seismicity regularities has been arisen. In paper, structure and content of the published in the Soviet Union and Russia special catalogs and international bibliography indexes on rockbursts are analyzed. The data available in the catalogs and publications can be used for studying and confirming of some studying regularities related to the reactivation of tectonic faults, presence of tectonically strained zones, occurrence of geodynamic hazard far from the place of mining works. It is concluded that repeated analysis of the data on the rockbursts occurrence at the deposits worldwide on the basis of up-to-date geomechanical concepts will allow extending the statistical basis for search and identification of the anthropogenic seismicity regularities.

Endogenous fires are significant hazard in the Polish and global underground mining industry. These fires are result of spontaneous combustion of coal due to the inability to discharge heat from the oxidation process. One of the main places of occurrence of endogenous fires are goaves in longwalls. By endogenous fire we mean self-ignition of coal, caused by a process of self-heating of coal (leading to increase in temperature), and under endogenous fire hazard possibility of coal self-ignition as a result of its self-heating process in mining heading or its surroundings. Hazard of endogenous fires in these goaves are formed due to the airflow with determined velocity and specified chemical constitution. The velocity of air stream mainly depends on the type of rocks forming the stroke and applied longwall ventilation system. In the paper results of numerical research of airflow through goaves ventilated in U-type system from borders and U-type system to the borders are presented. The aim of the analysis was to determine in these goaves a oxidation zone. For determined mining-geological conditions, the critical value of velocity of airflow and oxygen concentration in goaves, conditioning initiation of coal oxidation process were determined. Modelling studies carried out basing on the developed methodology included in its scope the study of spatial models of exploitation longwalls being ventilated on the U-type system from the borders and U-type system to the borders and its goaves. Results of tests and analyses, as well as conclusions presented in this article should be a valuable source of knowledge, and could be used in the practice of choosing exploitation longwall ventilation system and ventilation parameters of the air.

In China coalmines, economic losses and human casualties inflicted by roof bed separation water have been acutely severe in recent years. This article takes the engineering case, mining thick coal seam under nappe, in Xinji No. 1 Coalmine in Huainan mining field. Given the low tensile strength of lower roof bed under large mining heights, numerical simulation is applied to No. 1307 fully mechanized top-coal caving (FMTC) working face by coupling elastoplastic finite element model (FEM) in rock mechanics with "no-tension analysis" (NTA) to map out, in the roof bed, pattern of stress distribution and the maximum heights of caving zone (37m) and of water-conductive fractured zone (98.5m), quantitatively delineating the location of bed separation. Specifically, bed separation F is the closest to the water-conductive fractured zone (by merely 1.93m) and of a maximum width of 6.4m, flagging a major threat to mining safety. These results are further corroborated by exploratory drills. Outcomes can be of reference to other coal-mining countries when identifying bed separation and treating related water hazards during mining under complex geological conditions.

The selection of construction machinery for a project is a very important part of the construction process. Rigorous preparation for construction is very often neglected in practice even though three fifths of the construction companies in the Czech Republic operate at prices that lie below the safe pricing threshold. For small-scale buildings this ratio is even more pronounced. This fact can be understood as meaning that the price of construction is undervalued in such a way that it also has a negative impact on construction safety. On the other hand, the selection of a lifting mechanism usually relies on the individual decisionmaking capabilities of the construction manager, and the decision is mostly based on the options that are locally available. In such cases, the result is often that the total cost is disproportionately high and/or the lifting mechanism is oversized. The proper selection of the main lifting mechanism for a project depends on many factors and criteria, such as crane position, load characteristics, economic criteria and the flexibility of the schedule. Effective lifting mechanism selection fundamentally depends on the definition of the economic and technological criteria for each individual structure at the beginning of the project. This paper presents an approach developed by the authors to assess the suitability of a lifting mechanism for small-scale construction work based on an automated schedule in combination with the volume of the structure. A case study comparing two types of small self-erecting crane and a mobile crane is presented in order to prove the usefulness of this method. The results include a graph from which the suitability or unsuitability of each individual mechanism can be found. A cost curve with a transition point depicted for a range of six small-scale structures with different building volumes is shown for each mechanism. A clear transition point was found at a building volume of 6030 m³.

The indirect tensile strength test methods such as three and four points bending tests and Brazilian tests have been commonly used tensile strength determination and other mechanical properties of rocks since it is a quick, easy, and inexpensive testing methods. EN and ASTM standards suggested that sample dimensions of three and four points bending tests have been different from each other. The aim of this study, in order to analyses the effect of sample dimension on bending strength property of fine crystalline marble and is to determine the direct tensile strength (DTS) of rock by using new dumbbell shape. Indirect tensile strength of marble was determined by using three and four-point bending test methods according to related standards. In addition to experimental study, stress distribution and stress intensity on the sample was analyzed by using ANSYS. As a result, four-point bending test is more suitable for determining of tensile strength of marble.

In this study, the determination of the direct and indirect tensile strength of granite rock was carried out in compliance with related standard test methods. In order to analyze rock tensile strength between direct (with using a new dumbbell shape) and indirect (Brazilian tensile strength) test methods were conducted and obtained results were compared between them. A new dumbbell shape samples were used in direct tensile tests and cylindrical specimens, which have different t/D ratios such as 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0, were used in Brazilian tests. Moreover, stress distribution and the stress intensity within the sample were analyzed with Finite Elements Method (FEM) and numerical modeling techniques by using ANSYS R18 software. The direct tensile test yielded lower strength values than the indirect test. For the specimens tested in direct tensile test, failure occurred middle of the dumbbell shape sample due to lower stress intensity factor. Since Brazilian disc test, stress value in the diametrical line of the specimen has been found higher than nominal stress value according to FEM, tensile strength value that should be re-calculated by using any coefficient. Moreover, t / D ratio did not affect the Brazilian test results.

Seismic and rockburst hazard is one of the basic problems associated with deposit exploitation in many underground mines. Rockbursts are responsible for many mining accidents, and their effects, which include damaged excavations, destroyed equipment and machinery, generate financial losses and disrupt the operational continuity of the mining facility. Dynamic phenomena occurrence is one of the major natural hazards in Polish underground copper mines in the Legnica-Glogow Copper Belt (LGCB). The degree of seismic hazard in the LGCB results, among others, from the great depth of the copper deposit exploitation, high-strength rock layers in the roof strata and the ability of rock mass to accumulate elastic energy, as well as from an increasing amount of mining works to be carried out in difficult geological and mining conditions, for instance in the vicinity of remnants. The purpose of this paper is to show the influence of ore remnant on the possibility of seismic event occurrence by seismic activity analysis and numerical modelling. The possibility of using numerical modelling to back-calculate the occurrence of a seismic event due to sudden shear rupture is also presented. Analyses were conducted for the case study of the Polkowice-Sieroszowice Polish underground copper mine for the room-and-pillar mining system with room deflection. For the selected mining field, quantitative analysis of seismic activity was performed in connection with the assessment of the mining situation in this field. The location of tremor epicentres in the context of the existing geological and mining situation was also analysed, with special attention paid to the impact of remnants and dynamic phenomena in their vicinity. Subsequent investigations focused on the back analysis of deposit exploitation by room and pillar mining system with roof deflection in the selected mining field. Numerical simulations were conducted in a plane deformation state by means of Phase2 v. 8.0 software, which is based on the finite element method. The results of seismic and numerical analyses show that undisturbed rock remnants may have a negative impact on the seismic and rockburst hazard in the mining field. The analyses also show that on the edge of a rigid remnant, sudden fracturing of roof strata may occur, as a result of exceedance of shear strength (shear rapture). This may cause a high-energy mining tremor, and under appropriate conditions, may result in a rockburst phenomenon.

In in-service structural diagnostics, besides the monitoring of changes in physical properties of materials, it is essential to determine the dimensional stability of the structure as a whole. This is particularly important in the case of non-building structures exposed to variable and dynamic loading, such as overhead cranes, bridges, flyovers, telecommunications towers etc. Moreover, precise determination of the extent of deformation of structural elements allows for quick identification of any weak points or damaged areas which need to be further tested and assessed. The object of the analysis carried out in this article is a steel footbridge over the Brda River in Bydgoszcz. The main part of the structure stretching between the river banks comprises nine pin-jointed bridge decks suspended on pylons using steel cable stays. The jointed bridge decks make up the top slab. The structural design of the footbridge is simple and clear. The footbridge is rather susceptible to static loading and dynamic ambient excitations.

The research involved displacement and strain gauge measurements of the footbridge subjected to a test load. The test loading was applied by moving a loaded hand truck along the centre line of the footbridge deck and stopping it at predefined locations on deck segments. Vertical displacements were measured for each load setting at selected specific points of the bridge and the strain of the cable stays was determined on the basis of the measured values of the displacement. Precise surveying technology was applied to measure the vertical displacement, enabling the location of control points with an accuracy of 0.25mm in three dimensions, whereas deformations and strains were determined using strain gauges. This article also includes an account of changes in the geometric features of the footbridge resulting from its long-term use. A simplified static load analysis of the load-bearing system of the footbridge was performed (2D model) with simulated test loads. The loads applied in the FEM model were equivalent to the load values determined through geodetic measurements. The developed model was then used to identify a displacement of control points. A comparison of the measurement results with the results of the numerical analysis revealed inconsistencies, both as regards vertical displacements of footbridge deck segments and cable stay strains. An attempt was made in the article to explain the differences.

The tests on three-dimensional stress pattern in Polish copper mines made in 2012 confirmed the occurrence of high horizontal stress in the Legnica-Glogow Copper Belt (LGCB). No procedures (criteria) have been defined for proper selection of mining support for mining headings situated in a field of high horizontal stress. This is why, for a long time now, as mining works progress in deeper regions of the rock mass in the Legnica-Glogow Copper Belt, there is a need to identify the problem and define criteria (procedures) in order to ensure long-term and safe functioning of mining headings, particularly those being driven under unfavourable geological and mining conditions. These procedures should include, inter alia, values and directions of high horizontal stress. This article concerns the problem of access headings stability and preparatory headings stability driven in a field of high horizontal stress in Polish copper mines. This problem is very important due to the special safety requirements for mining headings that have been in use in mines for over a decade. The finite element method (FEM) was applied to assess the stability of mining headings under the conditions present in one of the copper mines in the Legnica-Glogow Copper Belt (the "Polkowice-Sieroszowice" copper mine). Rock parameters for numerical modelling were determined on the basis of the Hoek-Brown classification. The RocLab 1.0 computer application was used for this purpose. Stress field parameters were determined on the basis of underground tests performed in the "Polkowice-Sieroszowice" copper mine in 2012. Numerical modelling was performed by means of the Phase2 v. 8.0 application in a triaxial stress state and plane strain state. The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion was applied in numerical analyses. An elastic-plastic model with softening was applied to describe the rock medium. The obtained results of numerical analyses served to provide an example of the application of a roof bolting system to protect headings located in the high horizontal stress field.

The paper presents the results of tests on the changes in adhesion strength of the rubber covers to the core of a conveyor belt type St 3150. The investigations focused on four conveyor belts from the same manufacturer, produced in 1987, 1998, 2007 and 2016. The tests demonstrated that the values of adhesive strength decreased with time. The decrease of this parameter was caused by the natural aging of belts operated in a mine and therefore exposed to various atmospheric factors such as variable ambient temperature, snow, rain and solar radiation. The results of adhesion strength tests of the cover to the steel cord served to evaluate the usefulness of such belt in further operation on belt conveyors. The evaluation was made with regard to the admissible values for belts operated in a mine.

A cost model for the purchase and replacement of conveyor belts using the average durability of belts and splices of various types (including adhesive and vulcanized splices) was developed for a hypothetical underground mine which uses continuous belt transport. Variant cost models of belt maintenance were developed for the given belt purchase prices and costs of splicing belt segments in the loop. The investigations focused on how the total costs of belting are influenced by various factors, including: belt prices, splicing costs, durability of belts and their joints, type of splicing, time and costs of planned and emergency belt replacements. The analyzes were performed without taking into account random differences in durability, and therefore the confidence interval for total costs for the given confidence level was not presented. The calculations were based on data obtained from users. They were not preceded by any statistical analyzes of actual operating times for either belts or splices. The results are therefore of qualitative rather than quantitative nature. Nevertheless, they should accurately reflect the level of costs and the impact of the analyzed factors on its changes.

Information about the grain size distribution of a material plays an important role in optimizing production systems in various branches of industry. Analysis of particle size distribution in the run-of-mine material is frequently employed to verify the quality of drilling and blasting operations. Adequate software and improved grain size identification technologies not only help to monitor and evaluate the results of blasting operations, but also inform the selection of blasting methods which best correspond to particular geological and mining conditions both in surface mining and in underground mining. The accuracy of indirect, image-analysis methods used in the identification of grain size distribution motivated some pilot works aimed at using the grain size to evaluate the quality of a lithological complex copper ore deposit. Describing the run-of-mine material fed to the Ore Enrichment Plant (OEP) with the use of its grain size distribution may improve the techniques currently employed to optimize the energy efficiency of ore treatment processes. A model of ore flow in the underground transportation system, developed in the FlexSim environment, as part of the DISIRE research project, may prove a valuable optimization tool. This paper presents the results of preliminary research aimed at verifying whether grain size distribution of the run-of-mine material correlates with its lithological composition. The examinations covered grain size distribution in copper ore transported on belt conveyors in two mines in which the extracted ore has different lithology. The research was performed with the use of photogrammetric techniques and the Split Desktop 4.0 computer application. The advantage of the proposed technique is that it can be used at any location in the mine. The analysis was performed on the photographic material collected in situ at the "Lubin" mine. This material was supplemented with qualitative data stored in the Run-Of-Mine Ore Monitoring system (further: MOPRONA), as defined on the basis of channel samples collected on the day of tests.

Tracking of a mined ore is now considered as one of the key issues for the needs of improvement of the whole value chain of metal production. Ore beneficiation processes (grinding, milling, floatating) aimed to increase the metal recovery and decrease the energy use as well as reconciliation of mining production depend on the identification of a mined ore. However, even if the ore is recognised at mining faces (with the help of analysis of channel samples and orebody modelling), after being mined it is blended on its way from various mining fields to the processing plants. In a complex transportation system consisting of belt conveyors with switching points, ore bunkers and shafts, batches of mined ore become anonymous. Following the growing needs of getting the knowledge from the transported or processed raw material, the DISIRE research project (within the Horizon 2020 framework program) was carried out in 2015-2018. It was focused on investigation of the Process Analyser Technology (PAT) tags for annotating the transported or processed bulk material for the needs of its further processes control and optimisation (economic, decrease of energy use). The DISIRE work package "Non-ferrous mineral processing" was devoted to implementation PAT tags for the identification of conveyed copper ore in the underground mines to get the data necessary to improve the ore processes settings control. The complex investigations consisted of the analysis of available data from existing information systems, tests of the use of labelled tags in the harsh operational conditions of the underground mine, digital experiments of simulating the ore flow throughout the transportation system, the specific modelling of the ore particles movement inside the shaft ore bunkers with the use of Discrete Element Method. These main research activities were supported by supplementary investigations like application of picture recognition techniques for differentiation of various ore batches and statistical analysis of ore loading process (by trucks from mining fields). The processing of the real data as well as the numerous in-situ experiments have proved the possibility of the application of PAT tags for the needs of ore tracking and allowed to set the guidelines of the ore tracking system. The ore tracking system should be based on the dedicated simulation model of the mine transportation system, supported on-line by the data from existing information systems that monitor mining production and machinery control. As the mining transportation system is subjected to frequent changes, PAT tag experiments should be repeated to validate the simulation model. Ore bunkers play a key role in ore mixing which should be identified with the help of DEM modelling. All investigations were done on the basis of the chosen KGHM S.A. underground mine set of real operational data. The copper ore mined in these mines is considered as one of the most complex in the world (and the most difficult to be processed), so the implementation of the ore tracking system would be of great value for the more effective ore processing.

A sequence of intentional actions carried out within a fixed period of time by means of a specific set of machinery and equipment and with specific resources (materials, energy, human labour and financial and information resources) creates an industrial process. Sometimes the definition also includes the fact that industrial processes should be repeatable. An industrial process is often mistakenly classified as being synonymous with a production process. Many authors, including mining specialists, perceive the basic process in the mine without much consideration, as being a specific type of production process. The fundamental process in the mine (regardless of the method of mineral extraction) is not a production process owing to the lack of manufacturing processes within it, and the product research and development processes typical of manufacturing companies do not occur here, as the deposit - the natural accumulation of a particular mineral exists prior to the decision-making process regarding the start of the extraction. In the article, the authors analyse the efficiency of the extraction process from the perspective of processes within a mining company and working time efficiency and effectivity of longwall shearers. Presented are the current working diagrams of a longwall shearer and changes in its speed as shown in the E-mine reports, as well as changes in the shearers effectivity (working time with cutting) of the same longwall shearer in the time available (month) in one of one hard coal mines following the implementation of pro-efficiency adjustments. The authors indicate that the adoption of a process approach in hard coal mining has great potential for the improvement of the work efficiency of this equipment.

Discussed is one of the stages of an ongoing research study analysing the form and area of active mining impact on properties which include engineering structures. A general back analysis has been applied to the cause and effect method for defining the causes of empirically determined structural damage. The calculation model and numerical model of engineering structure and the environment with different influence are created on all basis data what are known from the project and documents. One of the aspects of the research study analyzed here explores the current assumptions for mining damage forecasts for areas affected by a mine over a planned operation period. Considering that mining forecasts specify the quantity, impact duration, as well as the form of static and dynamic forces responsible for stresses and deformations resulting from active mining, the information is most critical for the construction and industrial sectors. The mining plans for the analyzed areas are based on the final information supplied by the forecasts, and show active mining areas clearly outlined; thus making it possible to delineate the active mining impact areas when preparing guidelines for building and structure construction permits. The mining damage area parameters determine the design and construction requirements for individual projects which must comply with engineering structure foundation specification for areas exposed to other than standard and highly damaging active mining impact. Mining forecast data allow for designing adequate structural, material, and geothermal safeguards which will stabilize the soil and reduce forces negatively impacting soil serviceability limit states. Owing to the high number of problems attributable to discrepancies between the mapped mining damage areas, the calculations and assumptions used in mining forecasts, and the actual conditions, this study aims to analyze the problem. Based on the information supplied and the author's own observations supported by empirical investigations, the following conclusions have been developed.

The first part of this article describes possible mining of lithium in the Czech Republic – brief geological conditions and mining methods, mining in Cínovec deposit in the past, and uses of lithium. This is related to another part of the article, which is focused on the foundation of a new field of study at VŠB-TU Ostrava, the first of this type in the Czech Republic. The field of study is focused on the preparation of graduates in the field of designing and realization of blasting works in surface and deep mining of mineral deposits, but also for opening and preparatory works. An inseparable part of the study is the professional experience leading to obtaining a blasting licence. The guarantor of this field of study is Milan Mikoláš. Next part of the article is dedicated to protection of conveyor belts, which is practised in Vršanská uhelná a.s., where there is currently about 19 kilometres of conveyor belt and its repair is very expensive and time-consuming. Vršanská uhelná a.s., after agreement with Matador, decided to try the ARB system (anti tear resistance breaker). The last part of the article presents Vršanská uhelná a.s., and their innovative way how to cooperate with the public through the project named Coal Safari, which provides excursions to mining sites for the public.

The unique properties of the ultrafine grained composites, makes them attractive for aerospace, power engineering, machine and chemical and other practical applications. Carbon and Boron based composites are important and on high demand because of their specific properties and wide areas of application. It must be noted that SiC, TiC, TiB₂ and B₄C are characterized with high hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, they have high melting temperatures. Therefore they find wide application for preparing the details to working at high temperatures and aggressive media. According to the phase diagrams in the selected systems, the composites/intermetallics may be obtained with wide spectrum of phase composition, in crystalline and amorphous structures. Depending on the composition and structure, the synthesized composites exhibit different specific properties. The potential of the system for development of new structural/composite materials in different thermodynamic conditions is very attractive. Nano structured composite materials of Ti-Al-Si-B-C system, prepared in the form of micromechanical blends, solid solutions and intermetallic compounds are of great practical interest because of improved mechanical properties in comparison with coarse grain material (>1 μm). The methodology and technology for the fabrication of bulk materials from ultrafine powders of Ti-Al-B-C and Si-B-C systems are described in the paper. The crystalline coarse Ti, Al, Si, C powders and amorphous B were used as precursors, and blends with different compositions of Si-C-B, Ti-Al-B-C and Ti-Al-C were prepared. The powders were mixed according the selected ratios of components to produce the blend. For Mechanical alloying (MA) the high energetic "Fritsch" Planetary premium line ball mill was used. Ratio ball to powder by mass was 10:1. The time of the processing was varied from 2 to 5 hours with rotation speed of 500 rpm. For the consolidation and bulk sample formation Explosive Compaction (EC) technology was used. The experiments were performed at room temperature. The shock wave pressure was varied in the range of 5-20 GPa. The ultrafine powders and bulk compacts of different compositions were prepared for investigations. The microstructure was studied by SEM and the effective regimes for obtaining nanopowders and nanocomposites in Ti-Al-Si-B-C composition has been established.

Explosion protection systems for underground structures are designed to create a suppressing barrier between the site of explosion and the facility to be protected. Studies have shown that water mist, provided that its properties are correctly selected, can effectively reduce shock wave overpressure in tunnels. The influence of droplet sizes and concentration of water in mist on shock wave mitigation processes have been studied by various researchers through experiments and modelling. However, the effect of geometric dimensions of mist on shock wave attenuation in tunnels has not been sufficiently studied.

This paper addresses the influence of water mist thickness on blast overpressure under identical mist properties and explosion conditions in the tunnel. The study of such influence is essential for the proper design of the protective system. Experiments were conducted in the tunnel of the underground experimental base of the Mining Institute, Tbilisi, Georgia. The methodology employed envisaged the measurement of overpressures in the tunnel with the mist generated by the spray system. At different stages of experiments, the water mist thickness was 1.6m, 2.6m and 3.8m. Experiments were carried under the following conditions: charge weight - 2 kg; distance from the charge to the mist - 3.5 m, from the charge to the sensors - 11.5 m, droplet size distribution - 10-260μm, Mist density - 1.45 l/s•m3. In the test zone the height of the tunnel was 2.2 m, width - 2.2 m, cross-section - 4.4m2. The results of the experiments showed that the water mist thickness has an influence on the shock wave overpressure. Under the conditions of experiments carried out by us, the increase of the mist thickness by 3.1 times allowed to reduce the overpressure by 34%.

The paper presents the results of a physical modelling of the mine blast through an armored vehicle and dynamic load on occupants obtained on Anthropomorphic Test Device Hybrid III 50^th. The modelling experiments were conducted in the underground experimental base of the Mining Institute, specially designed for the study of explosion processes. The model contains four support stands, a bottom plate, an upper plate and extra mass. The plate has the following dimensions: 1920 mm x 790 mm, thickness - 8 mm. Hybrid III 50^th was installed on the upper plate of the armored vehicle model. The following dynamic characteristics of the dynamic response are recorded in the model: axial compression force (Fz) in the tibia, vertical acceleration (Az) in the pelvis, shear force (Fx), axial compression force (Fz) and flexion bending moment (My) in the neck. The expected injuries of the occupants of the armored vehicle are estimated.

The subject of investigation represents the designing data of explosion chamber and calorimetric device. The latter will allow the determination of the parameters of the detonation and energetic characteristics of low-sensitivity, emulsion and outdated explosives. Research methodology provides the study of standard explosives of published data only, which, at experimental investigations in the above-mentioned cases, do not agreed with the reality. The question problematical character is lied in the fact that the reduction of explosives sensitivity causes the increase of critical and limiting diameters of tested charge which, for its part, is associated with the increase of charge mass. Above-mentioned increases significantly the limiting values of designed dynamic loads, acting on the walls of explosion chamber and presents a serious hazard to the construction integrity. For problem, solving the new experimental explosion chamber together with calorimetric device was designed. In the chamber, for reduction of quasistatic pressures channels were designed the total area of their surfaces were calculated by theoretical methods together with other designed data of explosion chamber and calorimetric device. The procedure of the devise manufacturing is proceeding.

Invasive plants are naturalised plants that create populations that are spreading rapidly and to the long distances from parent plants. Invasive plants are occupying a large amount of space in invaded habitats, expected to impose a negative impact on the native vegetation. This study is focused on bearing the invasive plants close to the river. Based on the field work and measurements there can be seen relation between riverbank vegetation and river. We are mapping the occurrence Impatiens glandulifera and Fallopia japonica. They are invasive plants that threat the natural riverbank ecosystems. We updated the database of localities showed in the research of State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic and we identified a new locality of invasive plants. The focus of our research is the riverbank vegetation on the streams in region MaléKarpaty in Slovakia. Impatiens glandulifera and Fallopia japonicainvate the riverbank vegetation very often. Natural vegetation is degraded and the balance state in nature is broken. The spread of the invasive plants is driven by the dispersal and the colonization capabilities of the vegetative and sexual propagules. Our study focuses on how the water dispersal of stem and rhizome fragments have a share of the colonization dynamics of riverbanks. Watercourses are powerful vectors of species colonizing riverbanks. Invasion by these species is therefore likely to seriously affect biodiversity and reduce the quality of the riparian ecosystems for amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals whose diets are largely composed of arthropods. The biodiversity is rapidly decreasing and therefore it is very important to decelerate the invasive process.

In this paper, we have evaluated soil water regime in top soil layer based on agronomic classification. The study site was located in Malanta (near Nitra city, Slovakia). The whole site was divided into plots with the size 6 × 4 m separated by 0.5 m bands. Our field experiment began on March 2014 when a certificated biochar was applied to a depth 0-15 cm of soil profile in different rates. We have compared two plots: one with application of biochar in amount of 20 t/ha (B20) and second plot was without biochar amendment (Control). The soil water content in 0-15 cm depth was monitored by the 5TM sensors in 5 minute interval and stored using the EM 50 data loggers. Two sensors were installed at each plot and average value was used based on good correlation coefficient between them. Monitored period was from 12.8. to 22.10.2015 and the experimental area was cultivated with maize. Average daily value of soil water content and soil water storage were used to soil water regime evaluation. Results showed that 1) soil water content was higher at Control plot (we had expected higher values of soil water content at B20 plot based on scientific studies); 2) year 2015 was extremely hot and vegetation period and monitored period as well, were very dry. Therefor was soil water content below the hydrolimit wilting point (θ_WP) during a dominant part of monitored period. These results reflected also soil water regime evaluation, when deficit of soil water for plants was during long time of monitored period. Optimal soil water storage for plants was only 13 days at Control plot and 3 days at B20 plot. Our hypothesis, that this type of biochar (with specific characteristics) will improve soil water regime, was not confirmed.

The knowledge about the natural potential vegetation is important to ensure the ecological stability of the area in terms of the restoration of riparian vegetation. The natural generic and spatial arrangement of riparian vegetation helps to maintain aesthetic appeal and has a high biological value in the country. Therefore, this work analyses the qualitative stream characteristics. To classify the qualitative parameters of the stream the method of indexes was used. The following hydromorphological methods were used to assess the condition of the biotope: QBR method (Qualitat del Bosc de Ribera) that is based on qualitative analysis of riparian vegetation, the HMS method (Habitat Modification Score) that allows to examine the anthropogenic changes in the river, BEHI method (Bank Erosion Hazard Index) that is used to determine the vulnerability to erosion, RGA method (Rapid Geomorphic Assessments) that is used for assessing the stability and sensitivity of the stream in relation to sedimentation processes, and RCE method (Inventory of River, Channel and Environment) that is used to assess the physical and biological state of small currents. The above-mentioned methodologies reliably identify the extremes concerning the riparian and the accompanying vegetation of the rivers. The vegetation is an important parameter for assessing the quality of the stream and it point out the areas that should be restored as a priority. As expected, the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of riparian vegetation have shown better results in rural areas than in urban areas. The quality of the stream is degraded by anthropogenic interventions in urban areas as well as in rural areas, so the focus on the vegetation of the whole stream is substantial. The individual methods allow the restoration of data in case of more significant changes that could be caused, for example, by floods or more significant anthropogenic impacts. The importance of this issue is growing as the riparian vegetation represent a valuable element of ecological stability with multiple functions. The riparian vegetation care is set by the actual legislation at national and transnational level, regarding the admitted European strategic objectives and documents. The application of the methodologies reliably identifies extremes in riparian vegetation, which significantly affect the overall characteristics of the flow quality, and they should be the subject of the restoration. The biological, morphological and water state of ten representative parts of Slatina and Drietomica rivers were evaluated. The results show that these methodologies present an appropriate tool for assessing the quality of riparian vegetation and can be used for restoration measures.

Optical properties of dissolved organic carbon compounds (DOC) in selected fountains in Olsztyn (Poland) were investigated. The DOC fraction was isolated by using a membrane filter (Sartorius, pore size 0.45 μm). The amount of absorption for the DOC fraction was determined using the UV spectrophotometry method (UV range) at wavelength: 203 nm (A203), 250 nm (A250), 254 nm (A254) and 365 nm (A365). Then the absorption ratios were determined: A250/A365 and A254/A203. The aim of the study was to determine the contribution of macromolecules (hardly biodegradable, having an aromatic character) in the fraction of DOC. The variability of DOC compounds in the water of fountains was investigated depending on the water supply method (also subjected to disinfection) and depending on the period of research (season of the year) or the impact of the environment. It was shown that the average A250/A365 values were three times lower in fountains not subjected to disinfection than in artificial fountains. The A254/A203 parameter was on average several times lower in artificial fountains where the water was chlorinated. The Kruskal-Wallis test confirmed that the differences between the artificial objects and the other two in the average values of A250/A365 and A254/A203 ratios are significant. The values of these quotients indicate that natural and semi-natural fountains are characterized by a high share of aromatic compounds with high molecular weight. For artificial objects, the effect of the study period on differences in average values of A250/A365 and A254/A203 was not confirmed. The U Mann-Whitney test showed that there are differences in the mean values of A254/A203 between the semi-natural and natural fountain, and the changes of A250/A365 in these fountains are related to the date of sampling. After examining the influence of the catchment and anthropogenic pressure, it was found that in the semi-natural fountain, the quality of the DOC fraction changed due to the supply of allochthonous organic matter (leaves, waterfowl and its feeding by resting people). In the case of a fountain on a natural reservoir, the relatively high primary production and allochthonous inflow of DOC had significant influence on the DOC character (leaching from slopes with rainfall, groundbaits using by anglers).

Ironworks were located in the river valley floors as the water was the source of energy for the metallurgical technology. Trees growing in river valleys were a source of wood for charcoal production. Over the past centuries, ferrous metallurgy contributed to the transformation of the valley floor relief. Also the structure of the sediments was transformed. The subject of historical water-powered metallurgy in Poland is a poorly researched area from the perspective of natural sciences. The main research aim of this project, is a historical reconstruction of the scarcely recognized metallurgical activity, based on geomorphological, sedimentological and palaeobotnical changes in the environment. The project has two components complementary to each other. First part involves desk-based research during which digital data from air laser scanning is processed to determine the occurrence and distribution of potential forms related to the historical metallurgy, and an analysis of historical sources will be undertaken. In the next step, first fieldwork, and then the preparation of samples for radiocarbon and anthracological analysis will follow. During the fieldwork part, research will be carried out on an area of chosen river basins of the southern and central Poland. The research will be based on the geomorphological analysis in the places where potential or identified metallurgical centers were placed, along with the excavation of deposits and sampling for further analysis, both in the charcoal kilns and the former smelter ponds. If it proves possible, it is planned to expose the deposits in the weirs. Preliminary research contradicts the low invasiveness of historical metallurgy in the environment. According to the preliminary studies of the authors, it is known that in studied river valleys and adjacent areas, traces of former charcoal kilns have been found at a large scale (tens of thousands of forms). DEM images generated from airborne LiDAR data allow simple and relatively quick identification and inventory of the remnants past charcoal production. The large number of charcoal kilns, and the vast area they cover, indicate that the past charcoal production has had a significant impact on the environment of studied area. Analysis of the species composition of charcoals collected from kilns has shown the presence of pine wood mainly. Also the unexpected results of the first radioisotopic charcoals dating from the charcoal kilns, with dates of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, provide a particularly strong motivation for examining more forms in order to find equally spectacular results and to confirm a new perception of the beginning of water-powered metallurgy in Poland.

The aim of the study was preliminary identification of water chemistry in selected fountains located in municipal parks in Olsztyn (NE Poland). These studies will be the basis for further analyzes, including microbiological and mycological ones - the authors assume that specific chemical composition of water is the environment of existence and growing of microorganisms and at the same time it can be modified by them. For the pilot studies 5 objects were selected and conventionally divided them into artificial, semi-natural and natural fountains. Artificial fountains are supplied with tap water. The water is disinfected with chlorine and replaced if necessary. The semi-natural fountains are partly supplied with tap water and partly with surface runoff. Natural ones are supplied only by surface drainage and collectors draining the area of the adjacent park. Water for testing was collected throughout the operating season, every 2 weeks, from 22.05 to 3.10.2017. Physicochemical analyzes were performed in accordance with the methodology adopted in hydrochemical research. There were no significant differences in the water temperature between the different types of fountains, while the relationship between water temperature and air temperature was shown by the following equations: y = 0.9275x + 2.034, R² = 0.6611 (for artificial) and y = 0.4538 x + 8.6301, R² = 0.6642 (for others) where x = water temperature in the fountain. It has been shown that chemical composition of water in artificial objects is definitely different from that which fills natural and semi-natural fountains. Water in artificial objects, compared to the other ones, was characterized by low concentration of iron (0-0.14 mg dm⁻³) and manganese (0.020.07 mg dm⁻³), constant, slight hyperoxia (maximum 116.7% O2). The content of organic matter determined as COD-Mn was lower than in other objects, and we have improved that changes in the lifetime were insignificant. A highly significant relationship was found between the electrolytic conductivity and the concentration of NO₃⁻ and Cl⁻ (Spearman: 0.92 and 0.82 respectively) and between the concentration of free chlorine (Cl₂) and chlorides (Cl⁻). The maximum concentration found during the studies was 21 mg Cl₂ dm⁻³, and the smell was organoleptically felt as intensive even within about of five meters, generally throughout the whole research period. In all objects, the concentration of chlorides increased systematically during the lifetime of fountains. Constant increase in conductivity was observed, which indicates increased pollution. In addition, natural and semi-natural objects are exposed to increased pollution not only from people. Animal faeces and remains of feed scattered by people feeding birds, leaves and pollen are a big problem.

The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) requires from European countries to achieve environmental objectives. In relation to lakes, it is a good qualitative and quantitative status of all water bodies. Deep and stratified lakes resist anthropopressure for a long time, so they do not seem to require active protection. However, these types of ecosystems are also undergo a degradation processes. This is particularly true for lakes with tributaries - potential outbreaks of nutrients. Even small streams with visually "clean water" can carry loads of pollution exceeding the self-cleaning capacity of water bodies. Our paper presents the impact of anthropogenic watershed (agricultural and urban management) on the environmental conditions in small (deep (15.3m) stratified lake (Lake Święte in Obra, Wielkopolskie Lakeland, Poland). In the research, loads of biogenic pollutants feeding the reservoir from the main external sources were compared: drainage water supply (Pintus watercourse), atmospheric deposition, surface load from direct catchment, angling, and watering place. It has been shown that about 80% of the annual phosphorus load reaches the lake along with an inconspicuous watercourse (average flow 0.04 m³ s⁻¹, phosphorus concentration 0.1 - 0.5 mgP l⁻¹), to which drainage water from the surrounding area is discharged. The second major source of pollution is surface runoff. The total load of phosphorus contaminants was compared with the load discharged outside the ecosystem and the so-called critical level, calculated in accordance with the Vollenweider model (1976).

The results of our research indicate that Świçte Lake is a trap for pollution transferred through a drainage and watercourses network. At the same time, the volume of external loading of phosphorus several times exceeds the critical level and indicates the scenario of further eutrophication of the lake. Unexpectedly for the local community and lake users, this pollution is primarily due to the inconspicuous mid-field stream. On the basis of the results obtained, a plan of protective measures was developed, the main element of which is the elimination of this source of pollution. The work also discusses the possible techniques of revitalizing the lake ecosystem.

The research indicates the need to appreciate the role of small watercourses in the process of eutrophication of lakes and the role of early conservation measures taking place before the appearance of symptoms of ecosystem degradation, especially before the achievement by lakes of the turbid state - dominated by phytoplankton.

Bottom sediment is regarded as an important element in water ecosystem, playing the role of a nutrient "trap" but also of the potential and practically inexhaustible source of nutrients. A various transformations of mineral and organic components (diagenesis, dehydration, recrystallization, cementation, chemical reactions) take place in sediment, leading to the migration of nutrients compounds from sediment to water. The bottom sediment is composed of mineral and organic substances removed from the water during the processes of precipitation, sorption and sedimentation. Bottom sediment, that fills river beds, is characterized by a completely different chemical composition comparing to lake sediment. This is caused by the constant flow of water in the river and its good oxygenation. The aim of study was analysis of chemical composition of riverine and lacustrine bottom sediment. Research of bottom sediment was carried in the lake - river system of upper Paslçka. The upper Paslçka basin is situated in the north-east of Poland. The river Paslçka flows into Vistula Lagoon. The total area of the upper Paslçka River basin is 246.7 km2, while the length of the upper part of the river is 40.5 km (total area of Paslçka catchment is 2294.5 km2, total length of river is 211 km). The average fall of the upper course of Paslçka is 1.70 %o. Paslçka River in upper course flows through the lakes with different morphometric properties: Paslçk, Wymój, Sarçg, Lçguty and Is^g. The surface of lakes ranges from 8.5 to 397.5 ha, and a maximum depth - 5.0 to 54.5 m. The research showed a clear spatial differentiation of the content of silica, organic matter and carbon dioxide in the bottom sediments of particular river and lakes sections. The percentage share of other bottom sediments components i.e. macroelements (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn) and nutrients (P, N), was also various in river and lake sediment. The dominant component of river sediments was silica (56.9 to 96.7% d.w.). With the flow of the river, the share of silica in the sediment was higher. In lake sediment, silica was also predominant, but not in such a wide range as in the river (24.8 to 53.2% d.w.). The content of organic matter in river sediment did not exceed 27%. In the sediments of the lakes Paslçk and Sarçg organic matter was the second component of sediments and ranged from 19.5 to 30.1%. In other lakes the content of organic components ranged from 12.3 to 20.3%. In lake sediment a high proportion of carbon dioxide was noted - between 14.4 and 24.2%, while in river sediment, this component did not exceed 6.3%.

The temporal stability of climate-growth relationship is a basic assumption and requirement of climate reconstruction using tree rings. However, many recent studies showed change in tree-ring growth response to climate for the last decades. The temporal stability of relationship mentioned above can depend on the local factors, e.g. slope aspect. In presented study the tree-ring growth response to climate of larch from Polish part of Sudetes was analysed over time. The aim was to investigate its temporal variability, existence of trends and influence of local factors. The relation between tree-ring growth of larches from six sites located at comparable altitudes (about 700-750 m.a.s.l.) and climatic factors that mainly control the tree-ring growth of larches in the study area was analysed over time. The Pearson correlation between tree-ring width site chronologies and climatic data for the study area (the average monthly air temperature and total monthly precipitation series from high-resolution gridded dataset CRU TS v.4.01) was calculated in 40-years moving windows for the period 1901-2010. The results showed variations in the tree-ring growth response to climate over the analysed time period. Although in general, similar trends were observed for all sites, some differences in trends and magnitudes among sites were also spotted. Interesting is, that the response of sites became more consistent and similar for the last decades. The discussion of the received results with respect to currently observed climatic trends in the region and local factors that can explain the differences in response between particular sites is presented.

The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) belongs to the most important mineral resource and mining industrial region of Russia and occupies a leading place in the extraction of diamonds, gold, tin, antimony, and also has huge reserves of peat. An analysis of the state of violations during mining operations was performed. The thermomechanical state of health of the active layer has been studied. It is established that the complete freezing of the seasonal layer occurs in October-November, which is taken into account when developing new, earth-saving mining technologies. As a result of the carried out researches and new technologies of mining, providing simultaneous internal dumping, which reduces the areas of disturbed lands. Key words: deposits of the permafrost zone, placer deposits, peat, disturbance of the earth, active layer, earth-saving technologies of mining operations.

Nowadays studying CO₂ emissions play a focal role in the current debate on environment protection and sustainable development. CO₂ has been recognized by most scientists as a major source of global warming through its greenhouse effects. Another reason is that CO₂ emissions are directly related to the use of energy, which is an essential factor in the world economy, both for production and consumption. Access to relatively cheap electricity determines economic competitiveness on the market. Therefore, the relationship between CO₂ emissions and economic growth has important implications for environmental and economic policies. The main aim of the article is researching the dependencies between emissions and economic growth. The phenomenon of decoupling the economic growth from the emission level in European Union countries has a very complex nature. As a test sample, eight largest electricity producers in the European Union were presented, responsible for 75% of CO₂ emissions in the entire European Union. As a measure of economic growth, the widely used Gross Domestic Product per capita was adopted; which is currently heavily criticized due to the fact that its average value per capita of the country does not really show real income due to significant differentiation of income levels among various social groups. The examination of Pearson correlation coefficient between emissions and economic growth for the several European Union countries such as: Germany, UK, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Netherlands confirmed that developed countries would been able to achieve economic growth and at the same time decrease of emissivity was achieved.

High quality measured weather data (MWD) are limited or not available for many areas. Also their time coverage can be relatively short. That is why the use of gridded climatic data (GCD) in environmental studies is very popular. However, GCD are valuable source of information, their accuracy can be sometimes insufficient for particular study. That is why GCD applicability should be checked before the study run. The objective of this study was to check the applicability of gridded data for dendroclimatological studies of larch from Sudetes Mountains. To do so we compared GCD with available MWD from several weather stations located in the mentioned area. Because many gridded time-series datasets are available, we also wanted to check which dataset is the best to use for the mentioned area. In the analysis high-resolution gridded data on monthly mean temperature and total precipitation, which cover the common period 1901-2013, in 0.5° x 0.5° network, created by:

- Center for Climatic Research Department of Geography University of Delaware Newark (UD; model V4.01 for precipitation and temperature data),

- Global Precipitation Climatology Centre Deutscher Wetterdienst (GPCC; model V7 for precipitation data)

- Climate Research Unit, University of East Anglia (CRU; model CRU TS v.4.01 for precipitation and temperature data)

were used. The available MWD data from several weather stations started in 1951, 1956 and 1957. The common period for the analysis covered years 1951('56 or '57) - 2013.

For a given precipitation and temperature data the agreement and biases between GCDs and MWDs were assessed with the absolute mean error (ME) and root mean square error (RMSPE), L1- norm and Pearson correlation coefficient. Finally, linear regression analysis was performed to detect biases in the relationship between GCD and MWD, and the coefficient of determination (R²) was also calculated. GCD for precipitation show high similarity to MWD. Mean Pearson correlation coefficient values equal to 0.87 for GPCC, 0.82 for CRU and 0.8 for UD GCDs. For temperature the received values of Pearson correlation were relatively high and very similar, e.g. 0.97 for CRU and 0.96 (UD). L1-norm, ME, RMSPE and regression model confirmed small differences between analysed GCDs, but with better fitting of CRU GCD.

The greenery system of the city is an extremely important element of the urban structure. It is responsible for the proper functioning of the city in the ecological and natural aspect, but also supports social functions. The dynamic development of urbanized areas and the pressure of investment often causes the reduction or elimination of allotment gardens area. The paper presents example of the system of city with particular reference to allotment gardens. It is focused on the contemporary role of allotment gardens as an element of cities green areas. It is also attempted to determine factors that affect the integrity of the Green Infrastructure and sustainability development of the urban structure.

Foam concrete is classified as a lightweight concrete. It is a cement mortar in which air-voids are entrapped by a foaming agent. Its practical application is mainly limited to nonstructural material. For many years, the application of foam concrete has been limited to backfill of retaining walls, insulation of foundations, roof tiles and sound insulation. However, in the last few years foam concrete has become a promising material also for structural purposes. When the marginal loads are reached, all of alveolar concrete, included foam concrete, is destroyed without previous deformations. So, the main condition for the safe and reliable foam concrete use in structure elements is to increase its strength characteristics for short and long loads. Span constructive elements of foam concrete are performed as usual, reinforcement is ensured by a steel armature of a smooth or periodic profile. Experimental and theoretical research of comprehensive light concrete span elements and other types of reinforcement, their use in the methods of calculation, such as constructions with unconventional reinforcement, are not explored and used enough. One way to solve the problem is to replace conventional reinforcement by unconventional one (for example, organic or biological materials, different kinds of mesh). The results of experimental research of foam non-aerated concrete elements, the features of their work under the load are presented in this article. In this article, methods of increasing the strength of non-autoclave foam concrete using secondary waste are proposed. The results were compared with the results of tests of unreinforced elements.

Increased pollution of water resources leads to deterioration of surface water and ground water quality and it initiates application of various methods for water treatment. Passing the Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 247/20174 on requirements for drinking water and monitoring of drinking water quality have determined the limit of heavy metal concentrations in drinking water. Based on this fact some water resources in Slovakia became unsuitable for further use and they require appropriate treatment. The present research related to removal of heavy metals is focused on introduction of natural materials as well as industrial and agricultural waste that can be used as cost-effective sorption materials.

Arsenic and antimony are present in the aquatic environment as result of rock weathering reactions, biological activity, geochemical reactions, volcanic emissions, mining operations and anthropogenic activities.The objective of this work was to verify the sorption properties of granular filter materials READ-As (hydrous cerium dioxide adsorbent) in removal of heavy metals from water. This material was developed in Japan for removal of arsenic from water. One part of experiments was carried out in ground water source Dúbrava, where a high concentration of antimony in water is caused from mining activities as well as from rain falling on antimony-rich waste rock piles and a sludge-settling pond has led to higher concentrations of antimony in the relevant water resources. At the other part of article there are presented results with the same material READ-As for removal of arsenic from ground water source in Jasenie. The values of the bed volume and the adsorption capacity for this sorption material when reaching the limit concentration of antimony and arsenic were determined. READ-As material has shown to be more efficient in antimony removal from water in Dúbrava locality than GEH, for average antimony concentrations of antimony in a raw water 27.73 μg/L, filtration rate 5.58 m/h reached the antimony concentration of 5 μg/L in the outflow from the adsorption column of high level 48 cm, V/Vo (bed volume) 3967 and adsorption capacity of a value 128.4 μg/g. Limit concentration of antimony 5 μg/L was exceeded after 336 hours of operation of the model equipment. Lower efficiency of the GEH material in Sb removal from the water was observed in consideration with currently published results. By pilot plant tests in Jasenie locality was determined adsorption capacity 354 μg/g and ration V/V₀ (bed volume) 5130 μg/g for water with arsenic content of 55-60 μg/L and filtration rate 5.35 m/h, two steps filtration with READAs material. These values were determined when the limit concentration of arsenic in water outflowing the columns (10 μg/L) was reached. Mentioned values are significantly higher than it was in a case of antimony.

The presented article covers very current issues regarding the assessment of trace element release from building materials to the natural environment. Strontium belongs to the trace elements mentioned in the group of potential reference chemical markers of the building materials. The leachability of strontium from monolithic samples was determined on sedimentary and igneous stone materials as well as ceramic materials: bricks. 40 samples were analyzed in which the leachability of the subjective element for 8 temporal fractions was determined. The research methodology was implemented in accordance with the applicable standard requirements. Execution of water extracts took place in accordance with EN NEN 7375:2004 standard. The mineralization of aquatic eluates was prepared according to the PN-EN ISO 11885 standard. The strontium concentration was determined using the ICP sequential plasma-emission spectrometer. Research for pH measurement was performed using a pH-meter CP-105 waterproof IP67 ELMATRON calibrated with buffer solutions of pH 4 and 7. The highest strontium content in the aquatic eluates was identified in bricks ranging from 0.06-0.47 mg/l. From the group of the sedimentary rocks the highest leachability of this element was determined in the opoka-rocks at its maximum content of 0.28 mg/l and in the sandstones 0.05 mg/l. Water extracts from the igneous stone materials did not show the presence of strontium.

As part of the work on the trace element concentration in building materials and their leachability to the environment, the analyses of the temporal release of the trace elements group that could play a role as environmental chemical indicator were carried out. For a period of about half a year, in water eluates with different temporal fractions the leachability for: Sr, Ba, Mg, Mn, Zn were determined. Lumpy varieties of the opoka-rocks from the pre-industrial deposits and historical buildings were the material subjected to the analyses. The research methodology covered studies using broad analytics. The phase methods were used in order to uniquely identify the crystalline components of the studied rocks. Mineralogical and petrographic investigations were performed using Olympus BX-51 polarizing microscope and (SEM) FEI Quanta 200FEG electron microscope equipped with an X-ray spectrometer (EDX Genesis) and a backscattered electron detector (BSE). The concentration of these trace elements in water eluates in 8 temporal fractions was carried out in accordance with EA NEN 7375: 2004 and PN-EN ISO 11885 standards using the ICP sequential plasma spectrometer. It was found that the series of leachability of the studied elements in decreasing succession is as follows: Mg> Sr> Zn> Ba> Mn. The highest leachability from the selected elements was found for Mg, which ranged from 0.22 to 1.14 ppm

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has increasing potential as an environmentally hazardous material. Although EDTA exhibits relatively low acute toxicity, it has been found to be cytotoxic and weakly genotoxic in laboratory animals. In addition, oral exposures can cause reproductive and developmental effects. EDTA is commonly used in wood industry, pulp and paper industry, textile industry, cement industry and food industry. It is also widely used in laundry applications in order to reduce the water hardness and in many cleaning solutions.

Due to chemical properties of EDTA (polarity, relatively good solubility in water and chelating ability towards metal ions) it cannot be efficiently removed on common water treatment plants. As a result, the EDTA can be observed in the aquifer downstream near the outputs from water treatment plants of larger industrial entities. Therefore, the reliable monitoring of EDTA in water samples is of great importance. Commonly, the chromatographic methods are used for EDTA analysis with dominance of liquid chromatography coupled with UV-VIS or MS detectors. However, these methods suffer often from the lack of sensitivity towards EDTA at ppt levels. The combination of gas chromatography with high resolution MS can offer significantly lower detection limits (units of ug/l) as well as powerful identification tool. However, the derivatization of EDTA is required when GC-MS is being used. In addition, according to the Czech standard for EDTA determination the Programmed Temperature Vaporising (PTV) injector or cool on- column injection are recommended. In our paper we report on the GC-MS method development for determination of EDTA in water by using traditional split/splitless injector. We compare the external and internal standard methods of EDTA quantification for several different internal standards. The developed method was applied to analysis EDTA in real aqueous samples.

Radon is a naturally occurring, colourless and odourless radioactive gas, with a halflife of 3.8 days. Dangerous is not radon itself, but its progeny (daughter) products. The radon decay products irradiating of the lung. There is a strong correlation between radon exposure and lung cancer. The indoor radon concentrations in residential buildings are monitored. The study is performed in eight storied blocks of flats and also in family houses. The contributed deals with the radon concentration depending on a year season and floor level. Radon concentrations are varying with the characteristics of the building and its ventilation. Statistical analysis of the results shows that the probability that a weekly measurement represents the yearly radon concentration is significantly higher (twice) in winter and in summer than in summer and autumn. The maximum values of radon concentration is obtained in the first and second-floor rooms might be due to the contribution of radon emanation from the soil, entering into the living spaces from the ground.

Paper deals with application of geotextile ropes in erosion protection of slope of gravel pit in Nieboczowy, Poland. For protection of the slope the segments formed from thick ropes were applied. The ropes with the diameter of 120 mm were produced by the Kemafil technology. Ropes were made from strips of stitch-bonded nonwoven produced from a mixture of recycled natural and synthetic fibres and strips of wool needle-punched nonwoven. The protected slope had the length of 4 to 6 m, slope inclination from 1:1 to 1:1.8 and total area of approximately 150 m² Generally, slope surface in protected section is without rills and gullies. This case also shows that vegetation is very good anti-erosion measure. Thanks ropes installed on the slope, favourable conditions for vegetation growth are created and maintained. Effectiveness of the ropes in slope erosion protection will be shown by the actual mean annual soil erosion rate E_A and potential mean annual soil erosion rate E_p for two cases: slope with the ropes and slope without the ropes. Values of E_a and E_p were calculated applying Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Values of parameters of the USLE were determined based on rainfall records of 17 years, soils properties, slope geometrical parameters, cropping and management practices as so as erosion control practice on the site. The obtained value E_a = E_p = 0.71 (t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) in slope part with ropes shows that there is no erosion in this part at present and also in future. The value of E_a = 15.68 (t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) in slope part without ropes shows that there is strong erosion in this part at present. The value of E_p = 71.27 (t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) in slope part without ropes also shows that there will be strong erosion in this part in future.

Water samples (rivers, streams, mine adits, tailings ponds) from Jinding zinc-lead polymetallic mining area and Bi River Basin were analysed for 32 indicators including major hydrochemical components and heavy metals. The correlation analysis of water chemical parameters and Gibbs diagram show that the water composition of the Bi River is influenced by human activities in addition to the rock weathering. In the streams, the main cations and anions are derived from the rock weathering of formations rich in gypsum, calcite and dolomite. Nemerow comprehensive pollution index method was performed to evaluate water quality. The water of streams and one pond is clean. Mine adits water pollution level is medium-heavy pollution. The water samples flowing through the mining area and from tailings ponds are heavy polluted.

Dahongshan Iron and Cooper mine in Yunnan Province are respectively the second and the third batch of National green mining pilot units. In order to test the green mine promoting effect and better drive other mining enterprises in Yunnan province to build green mines, we investigated the water body, farmland soil, vegetation and geological environment surrounding the mine in August 2016. By adopting both the single factor index method and Nemero multi-factor index method, the pollution indices were calculated to assess pollution extent, The Pi values of Cu and Ni of 4 soil samples in the 19 sampling points were greater than level l and slightly polluted, while the Pi values of one sampling point in Cu were greater than level 2, which was moderately polluted. From the comprehensive pollution index, one sample point was between 2-3, indicating that all soil crops were moderately polluted, and one sample point was between 1-2, indicating that the soil was lightly polluted and the crops began to be polluted. The two samples were all between 0.7 and 1, indicating that they were still clean and the remaining 15 samples were all less than 0.7, indicating that they were safe and uncontaminated. Some visible achievements have been made in the construction of green mines.

Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) used for the first time in 1850 by a French and a Belgian entrepreneur. Because of its increasing use, today, PCI has become the most traditional method decreasing the amount of coke consumption in high ovens. To increase capacity of coal burning process results an increase in ore/coke rate and a decrease in greenhouse gases (CO₂, SO₂, NO_x) emissions, in terms of environmental effects, it constitutes significance. Life cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is preferred in many studies as an evaluation method for economic and environmental effects used in production areas at present. Microalgae are important for the bio-mitigation of carbons/biological sequestration due to their property of under greenhouse gases and under flue gas effectively. Steel and iron industry is known for its high capacity of these kind of gases and microalgae pond integrated to a steel and iron industry can be a good way of struggling the unwanted impacts of these gases. Our project aims to develop a technology to burn Turkish coal and microalgae biomass resources and their mixtures at certain proportions under LCA. The results obtained in this study will be used to create a database on LCA evaluations in energy areas of Turkey.

Waste heat recovery in industrial activities is virtually an "energy saving method" which can be introduced into a productive system with successful results as far as technical, economic and environmental aspects are concerned. It is now in fact evident that a careful heat waste management leads not only to primary energy savings, but also to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, often with economic sustainability. The case presented here refers to a steel hot-forging industry situated in the Nord-west of Italy that is equipped with steel hot processing devices, and, in particular, with methane ovens for the hot cutting machines. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to carry out a project aimed at the recovery of the hot flows exiting from the ovens in order to produce electric and thermal power that could be used in the same industrial activity or in tertiary activities near the factory itself. After an in-depth analysis in this technological activity inside the factory concerning the electricity and natural gas consumption and hot gas flow-rate availability, different power plant solutions were considered and evaluated. At the end of the analysis process, the choice fell upon an Organic Rankine Cycle with a power of 50 [kW_el]. The technical and economic analysis of this powerplant furnished a pay-back period between the 17^th and the 18^th year, as far as electrical energy is concerned, which was considered excessively long. An acceptable payback period, that is, of less than ten years, was instead found for the recovery of the thermal power of the ORC plant, which could be utilized, through a remote heating system, for public buildings, such as elementary/primary schools and the City Hall, which are located very close to the factory. In short, with this plant solution, it will be possible to produce more than 150 MWh/year of electric energy and about 600 MWh/year of thermal energy, with a reduction in CO₂ emission of around 174 tons per year and also the energy saving, in terms of "Tons of Oil Equivalent", has been calculated around a mean value of 24 tons/year.

Groundwater and surface water sometimes contain substances that do not occur frequently in such water. Such substances include some of the metals. Increased iron and manganese content is expected in groundwater; however, metals such as cadmium, nickel or arsenic in high quantities are not typical of this water. Still, there are sources where the occurrence of cadmium, arsenic and other metals is in concentrations exceeding the prescribed values for drinking water. Because of the toxicity of heavy metals, authors dealt with the possibilities of removing cadmium from water. There are many ways to remove heavy metals, however today iron hydroxide based granulated sorption materials are used due to their simplicity, efficiency and low economic demands. The laboratory experiments of the removal of cadmium from water were carried out at the Institute of Municipal Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering in Brno as part of a specific university research project. The aim of the experiment was to compare the ability of three sorption materials CFH 0818, Bayoxide E33 and GEH on the removal of cadmium from water. These materials were primarily designed to remove arsenic from water. Filtration columns filled with the mentioned sorbents were used for filtration. Drinking water was used as raw water during the measurement from the municipal water supply system in which increased cadmium concentration was achieved artificially by adding a chemical solution. During the experiment, the flow rate was set to reach the required retention time of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 minutes taking into account the porosity of the media. The results of the laboratory measurement show that all three materials were able to reduce the concentration of cadmium deep below the limit laid down by Decree No. 252/2004 Coll. already at the shortest delay time. Contact filtration occurred unequivocally in all sorption materials during the removal of the cadmium.

Gas hydrates consist of small molecules trapped in crystal lattices of water molecules in a form resembling to common ice. The hydrate forming components are abundant in subsea sediments at conditions inside the hydrate stability zone. The vast majority of natural gas hydrates is expected to be hosted at the subsea sedimentary geo-environment. Despite the fact that such hydrates are not exploitable under the current technology, they can pose an environmental risk in case of uncontrolled dissociation. In this work, the effect of gas hydrates dissociation on the mechanical properties of a muddy clayish sediment retrieved from the "Anaximander" subsea mud volcano area and on its ability to conduct flow, was studied. A marine sediment was reconstituted in vitro with in-situ retrieved mud, water and hydrocarbon gas mixtures of compositions similar to the ones measured just above the seabed and was brought at conditions favouring the formation of hydrates. Geomechanical tests were conducted on the sediment before and during the dissociation of the guest hydrates, by isobaric heating and by isothermal depressurization. Permeability was found to increase only moderately during hydrate dissociation, possibly due to the high effective stress. The consolidation of the formation was increased up to a maximum just before the hydrates start to decompose and then collapsed when the free gas was produced. The bulk sediment volume was reduced by around 15% when the liberated gas was released from the formation in sudden "bursts" which occurred sporadically. The experimental results presented in this study seem to support the possibility of subsea landslides and the hydrate gun hypothesis for such areas as a result of hydrate dissociation.

In the present study the removal of Cadmium (Cd) from spiked aqueous solutions using low quality lignite (LG) was studied. A comparison between the adsorption capacity of activated carbon (AC) and lignite is presented, while the enhancement of the adsorption capacity, by adding Nano-scale zero valent iron (nZVI) onto AC and LG was investigated. To study the enhancement of adsorption capacity, two materials were synthesized (LGFe, ACFe). The sorbents were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX), while their sorption efficiency, for Cd removal, was investigated with kinetic and equilibrium studies performed in batch conditions. With the proposed procedure nZVI was successfully "loaded" onto lignite and Cd removal from solutions reached 90%. The addition of iron nanoparticles in organic materials significantly increased adsorptive capacity, which was more drastic in the case of lignite. The experiments showed that sorption equilibrium was achieved within 12 h for all materials and that maximum adsorption capacity of LG, AC, LGFe, and ACFe was 25.5mg/g, 30mg/g, 34.7mg/g, and 36.5mg/g, respectively. The results of the equilibrium experiments proved to fit better to the Freundlich equation.

The purpose of the work was to determine the suitability of adding ash from household furnaces to agricultural soils. The author took into account the properties of ashes and their usefulness in various fields. The paper presents the soil specification and the effect of ash on it. Also, the impact of ash on the growth of plants that have been fertilized and deficiencies and hazards resulting from this method of fertilization has been shown. The analysis of samples in which soil mixtures were made of ashes from hard coal and wood ashes was carried out. Research has been carried out in the presence of elements that have the greatest impact on plant growth.

The publication deals with the effect of herbicides paraquat (PQ) and glyphosate (G) on germination and early development of standard test plants - garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus var. radiculata L.). PQ has proven environmental toxicity and its usage is forbidden in Europe, while G is widely used in agricultural practice. Pollution of soil and surface water with pesticides can cause a reduction in biodiversity and species abundance, alteration in the structure of populations with consequent degradation of terrestrial communities. Besides their ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify along the trophic chains and thus remain in the biotope over a long time in increasing concentrations, they can inhibit seed germination and early development of young plants in ecosystems. The ecotoxicology tests were conducted with 200 μM, 350 μM, 500 μM, 650 μM, 800 μM, 950 μM and 1100 μΜ herbicides concentrations, and a control – distilled water. The number of germinated seeds (Ek) and viable sprouts (K), length of stems and roots, and absolute dry weight of stems, roots and leaves were used as parameters for identifying the pesticides impact. The ecotoxicology tests showed a generally pronounced higher toxicity of PQ compared to G. In addition, the genetic analysis using ISSR markers showed that plants respond to herbicide stress through changes at DNA level that are in general dose-dependent and, at least partially, stress-specific.

This article deals with the use of secondary energy products in the area of reclamation and, within this context also with the environmental impacts of these secondary energy products (next referred to as SEPs). The bases for environmental impact assessment and possible use for reclamation have been provided the authors data, knowledge, observations and experiences gained with in the preparation and partial reclamation of the area Ervěnice. The authors also took into account the properties of the secondary energy products determined for the technical part of reclamation and also into the data obtained in the framework of geological and hydro geological survey, groundwater monitoring and sediment monitoring of deposited secondary energy products, mine report and historical records concerning the completed deepwater mining and subsequent surface mining. The research will analyse the influence of SEPs on underground and surface water, the impact of dustiness on nearby urban agglomerations as well as adjacent industrial plants.

In our article I tried to name history and evolution in creation of (burnt bricks). I focused on full brick which is the main building component since 1964. Since this year many more products have been created, these products replaced the full brick in some parts of construction yet it is still part of many buildings of different shapes and colours. I named the evolution progress until nowadays. The brick was at the birth of construction industry. It was 8300 years BC (before Christ). For the duration of 10.000 years it was main steppes material. It made its breakthrough in structure constructions. It made revolutionary construction Boom from low one story buildings up to many story buildings. Brick connects functionality with aesthetics, It pushed construction industry from material position which is subordinate to weather influences, to material which is able to withstand many centuries. It is recyclable, health wise friendly, antiallergic, fire-resistant, and chemically resistant. The brick became the main pillar for constructions from 19th century until nowadays. It has been used on many constructional sites. They resist the wind and weather influence they also have functional and esthetical value. Keywords: brick, history, full brick, material, desiccation, size.

This article deals with issues of the quarry drill rigs operation. They are the rigs with top hammer, or down the hole hammer drills, primarily used during the preparation of blasting. The article is focused on the monitoring of costs and economic management. The introductory part of the article provides a description of all costs, and their division to fixed and variable costs. In the next part, figures of particular costs are provided for specific selected locations in the Czech Republic. Also, the article deals with proposals for the monitoring, evaluation, and reduction of the costs. Separately, the fixed costs are covered, with the evaluation of turn points in various conditions. The proposals for the reduction of variable costs are provided separately. In the article conclusion, summary of recommended measures is provided. Key words: drill rig, costs monitoring, blasting.

Post-mining reclamation is an activity, which can be used to restore or return the original appearance of the landscape or to create a new one, thereby stopping its degradation and re-utilizing the landscape for the original or possibly other purposes. Each mining organization is required to draw up a rehabilitation and reclamation plan for its field and to create financial reserves for rehabilitation and reclamation. One of such fields is the Ločenice sand pit, which is interesting due to the occurrence and mining of moldavites in addition to mining of gravel sand. This article provides a brief discussion on the future rehabilitation and reclamation of the mining area after the termination of the mining process.

In this study, the co-liquefaction of Elbistan lignite and biomass investigated by using apricot kernel shell as a biomass type. The liquefaction experiments were carried out under inert atmosphere and non-catalytic conditions. The effect of particle size, coal/biomass ratio, and reaction temperature were examined as a process variable to determine the effect of process parameters on total conversion of products obtained by liquefaction and the conversion of liquefaction products.

In this study, the characterization of products obtained with the co-liquefaction of Elbistan lignite and biomass is made by using the apricot kernel shell as the biomass. The liquefaction tests were carried out in an inert atmosphere in non-catalytic conditions. The calorific value, proximate and elemental analyses of the solid products and the calorific value, elemental analyses and the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the liquid products obtained with the liquefaction were made. The qualitative and quantitative analysis were made by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After the characterization process, the effect of the process parameters on the composition of solid and liquid products were also determined.

This paper presents current legal conditions related to the procedures of awarding concession contracts in Polish open pit mining industry. It lists legal acts which regulate mining activity and the concession-awarding institutions. It additionally discusses the types of awarded concessions. The focus is placed on the difference between minerals covered by the mining ownership and minerals covered by the real estate ownership. The paper also deals with the stages of the process of obtaining an exploitation concession. These stages include primarily the urban planning procedure and the environmental procedure. The urban planning procedure allows the new function of the terrain for open pit mining to be specified in the local urban spatial development plan. The environmental procedure, on the other hand, closes by either granting or denying the so-called environmental decision. Both procedures are performed with public participation. The purpose of the environmental procedure is to select such a mining variant which keeps the environmental burden to a minimum. The last stage of the concession process is to file a concession application to the competent authority. The duration of the concession process depends individually on the legal and actual situation. In practice, the procedures are long-lasting and may take as much as several years. This article also discusses some problems of the Polish concession system. Considerations include the burden of both the planning and the environmental procedures, as well as the problems caused by the number of legal regulations and their frequent changes, or by the reluctant acceptance that mining projects win in local municipalities. Another problem addressed in this paper relates to the protection of documented deposits, as investment projects having different protective status are not equally protected in the law. No adequate measure exists, either, which would protect documented resources from building development.

This study focuses on the concentrations of trace elements and macroelements in soils, leaves, stems, rhizome and seed of Reynoutria japonica in 5 urban parks with different levels of disturbance (high, medium, low). The sampling locations within each park were chosen along river banks or forest edges. The soil samples were taken only in the humus horizon which averaged about 15 cm in thickness. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Al, Zn, Cd, Pb, P, S, Cr, Cu and Ni in plant material and soil were analyzed. The orders of average heavy-metal abundances found are Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cd in leaves and Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd in a park soils showing a high levels of disturbance. In cases of low disturbance levels, the orders of average abundances for leaves are Zn>Cu>Cd>Ni>Pb>Cr and, for soil, Zn>Cr>Ni>Pb>Cu>Cd. The highest enrichments noted for Zn in topsoil was about 581.2 mg/kg in soil and, in leaves, 594 mg/kg. On all of the sites, both in the case of soil and plant materials, Zn was a dominant element and its concentration ranged from 44.6 to 581.2 mg/kg in soils and from 38.6 to 541.7, leafs (38-594 mg/kg), stems (115.8 -178.4mg/kg). The lowest concentrations of Cd (0.14-0.21 mg/kg, Cu (5.9-6.9 mg/kg) and Ni (4.6-14.5 mg/kg) in soil were observed in a parks with low levels of disturbance. Similar patterns of regularity were also observed in leaves, stems and rhizome. Different concentrations of metals in each park result from the degree of diversity of the parent rocks on which soil was formed. In the case of soil material transported from elsewhere, the concentrations of heavy metals are higher than in soils formed from local rocks. In a park located near a road, the concentrations of metals found also reflect traffic emissions and other sources of pollution. The results showed that R. japonica has a high capability to accumulate heavy metals. The stems contain more accumulated Zn than leaves, seed and rhizome.

On November 2015 Lesbos Island has faced an ultimate recognition as one of UNESCO's Global Geoparks, an honor of its international significance based on its geological treasure as revealed by the existence of the famous early Miocene Petrified Forest and the variety of its geosites. The aim of this study is to draw a holistic approach for the palaeobotany of Lesbos Island through three main subjects: a) The first one is dealing with the past, the recognition of the palaeobotanical importance of Lesbos since the ancient times and the revision of the palaeoxylotomical and foliage material, b) the second theme gives a very brief summary of the recent results from the research by the first author and c) the third one uses the revealing of the historical part of Lesbos palaeofloristic treasure and also the recent botanical legislation and studies highlighting the complexity of Lesbos palaeobotany, which underline the remaining inconsistencies and propose solutions in order to give the perspectives of the future.

Geological tourism is a basic supporting element and an important format in the development of tourism industry, It is also the development of the domestic tourism of the more systematic, mature and has been widely accepted by the tourists and favourite product type; To all kinds of geological parks or geological scenic spots as the representative of the geological tourism has made rapid development, Also face the bottleneck of their own development; To explore a variety of "Geological tourism +" innovative development model, for the future of geological tourism has a positive exploration of value and practical significance.

Tourism products have a certain life cycle and internal upgrading needs. The form of geological tourism products is relatively stable and also has a relatively long life cycle. Meanwhile, its internal upgrading which manifests as generational shift is obvious and frequent. Such factors as what noticeable generational shift of Yunnan geological tourism products is; how to distinguish and link up different generational tourism products; what are the internal causes and external causes leading to the generational shift, what is the trend of the development of geological tourism products in Yunnan are worthy of in-depth discussion and analysis.

Orava, a formerly underdeveloped region, is currently resuming the status of an interesting centre of tourism. Its popularity began to boom there in the second half of the 20^thcentury, particularly thanks to the Orava Reservoir. The region was also affected by the geopolitical changes back at the end of the 1980s. The region never had much industry and thus the landscape may now offer many beauties of both the animate and inanimate nature. The geological structure and geomorphology of the ground also offer a number of tourist destinations. The paper mentions several of these, namely the klippes in Podbiel, the Orava Castle, the Orava Reservoir and its surroundings with the discoveries of meteoritic iron, Pucov plum-pudding stone, and the geothermal spring in Oravice. The paper also describes one technical monument, František's ironworks in Podbiel. An offer of geomontane / geotourist trails through Orava may attract a wide spectrum of visitors to the region.

The contemporary Jáchymov, a small spa town in Krušné hory in the Czech Republic, has always had an important role in the country's economy. Among the many ores in the Jáchymov deposit, silver and uranium have been most important. The discovery of silver ores attracted many people in the past, and soon one of the biggest towns in the country was established. The history of the town is connected with many famous scientists interested in inanimate nature, who either visited Jáchymov or lived there. Among the greatest personalities connected with the history of Jáchymov, there is Georgius Agricola and Marie Curie- Skłodowská. From the historical point of view, Jáchymov aspires to become an important centre of global geotourism in the future.

In the last two decades, the effects of inequality on economic growth have become one of the most popular research topics among scholars and policy makers. Growing inequalities have also represented one of the main concerns of the EU Member States. Although European Regional Policy specifically addresses the issue of regional inequalities, so far empirical research has shown its constant persistence, with a deepening tendency in the last two decades at smaller territorial units. Furthermore, the recent economic and financial crisis has aggravated the pre-existing regional problems even more, not only at regional but also at local level. The aim of the paper is to present some actual connections of the Romanian spatial structure and the characteristics of spatial inequalities before and after the EU accession.

Housing estates play the important role in planning the contemporary European cities. The urban concepts of estates are changing, especially in countries in which there are big housing needs, because fast economic development and sustainable paradigm last decades. The purpose of study is characteristics of the urban concepts and housing environment based on these important examples, chosen by the author: Marina Mokotow Estate in Warsaw, Eko Park Estate in Warsaw and Westerpark Urban District (GWL Terrain) in Amsterdam. The analysis includes: urban composition of mentioned above estates, standards of semi-public spaces, recreational spaces and provided ecological ideas, solutions of the wheeled and walking transport, the quality of architecture. The analysis showed significant differences in urban development of housing estates and the different relations to semi-public spaces and the city space. They represent different typology in creating city planning of 21st century (modernism concept "gated community", mix-used concept based on the city quarters - heterotypic solution and the concept of eco-habitat.

The urban spaces of river banks are sensitive areas, not only in environmental terms but also considering the spatial planning rules. Often the spatial planning rules are focused on building and urban development questions rather than of ecological approaches. In this sense, this article aims to present an urban design project for a sensitive territory of river banks having as pivotal concern ecological solutions. This proposal is due to the requirement of linking the landscape features of river water fronts with the characteristics of the urban fabric. The case study area is the Train Station surroundings in Säo Pedro do Sul, a city in the central region of Portugal very well-known because of its thermal baths. It was proposed to the university team, on behalf of the Urban Planning Unit of the Master Degree in Architecture at the University of Beira Interior, by the Municipal authority. The students were organized in groups in order to propose the urban design projects, ensuring the continuity of the urban fabric with the Vouga river. The best projects won prizes (1^st, 2^nd and two honour awards) offered by the city hall. This fact was an extra motivation for students along to the design process in an academic environment comprising an international background (including Portugal, Greece, Brazil, Slovakia, Lithuania and Poland). Regarding the presented solution, the conclusions show that the main strategy was to preserve and to enhance the ecological identity of the place, possible given the agreement in between university and municipal authority, working together.

Soft mobility is on the top of the agenda as a strategy for cities liveability. It refers to non-motorized transportation solutions in order to promote the human mobility. In this domain pedestrian and bicycle paths have a pivotal interest on behalf of urban design solutions. This paper presents an urban design project focused on soft mobility solutions having as case study a Portuguese city. The area called Train Station surroundings in São Pedro do Sul, makes the link in between the urban fabric and the Vouga river banks. This city is very well-known because of its thermal baths, known since the Roman times. The presented urban design project is a result of the agreement in between the University team, on behalf of the Urban Planning Unit of the Master Degree in Architecture at the University of Beira Interior in Covilhã and the Municipal authority of São Pedro do Sul. The students were organized in several international groups (including people from Portugal, Greece, Brazil, Slovakia, Lithuania and Poland) in order to propose their urban design projects, ensuring the continuity of the urban fabric with the water front. The city hall has organized a competition and has offered four prizes (1^st, 2^nd and 2 honour awards) for the best projects, which was an extra motivation for students. Regarding the presented solution, the conclusions show that the main strategy was to propose an urban system of soft mobility pathways for pedestrians and bicycles, in order to connect the main natural element in the case study area which is the river with the city. This soft mobility system is connecting places such as the existing low density housing neighbourhoods or the most relevant historical and cultural landmark, the nineteen-century train station building.

Touristic activities are growing all-over the world. The number of people traveling abroad to visit places and having adventures is increasing. Even though the most popular cities and countries in touristic terms are the most visited places, the small cities in rural areas are also defining strategies in order to improve their performances in tourism. The Portuguese city of São Pedro do Sul, very well-known because of its thermal baths with roots in the Roman times, is not an exception on this domain. This is a high potential area for touristic purposes linking the consolidated urban fabric of the city with the river Vouga banks. Therefore, it has all required features to become a touristic spot focused on river sport activities. In this sense this paper aims to present an urban design project having has pivotal goal to promote the sport activities related with the river. This solution was the result of an international team background (Portugal, Slovakia, Brazil, Greece, Poland and Lithuania) with their different understandings about the sensitive areas such as the river banks in an urban context. The conclusions show that the historical buildings can have a new life and use, which was the case of the nineteen-century train station transformed into a multicultural centre. The proposal main strategy is the creation of a set of facilities and public spaces such as the camping or a nautical centre in order to promote the touristic activities related with the river.

The relationship between total annual precipitation and solar activity (sunspot number) were studied based on annual precipitation data from 25 weather stations in Poland that were gathered from 1966 to 2016. The correlation between a yearly sunspot number and a total annual precipitation were analysed by sinusoidal repression analysis. The 5-year smoothest sunspot number and a total annual precipitation for each weather station were taken for final analysis. The parameters of sin curve were calculated by the least square fit method. It is assumed that the frequency is 10.87 years which is a mean spring tidal period of Jupiter and Saturn. The cross correlation between solar activity and total annual precipitation was shown. The difference in year between a minimum yearly sunspot number and a maximum total annual precipitation is assumed as the level of correlation. It is also assumed that high correlation occurs if the difference in question is smaller than 1.5 years, moderate if the difference is higher than 1.5 and smaller than 2.5 years and weak if the difference is higher than 2.5 years. The southern and southwestern regions of Poland give high correlation, central and northern - moderate, and eastern - weak correlations. The presented analysis may be treated as the first step for a more accurate multi-scale harmonic analysis.

Contemporary climate change causes an increase in the sensitivity of urban areas to the effects of this change, manifested in the increased threat of periods of both shortage and surplus of water or a higher probability of flood or drought occurrence. That is why Polish Ministry of the Environment is currently implementing project aimed at developing in major Polish cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants Urban Adaptation Plans that would reduce the city's vulnerability to climate change. One of the elements of preparing such plans is the assessment of the city's exposure to the effects of changes in rainfall conditions. Therefore, it is extremely important to know the trends of these changes. The analysis of the variability of selected precipitation characteristics was carried out for 24 Polish cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The tendencies of annual and seasonal precipitation changes, the number of days with precipitation, the number of days with extreme precipitation (events exceeding the 19712000 95^th percentile of daily precipitation) as well as the fraction of annual total precipitation due to extreme precipitation have been characterized. Annual trends were calculated using standard linear regression method and its statistical significance at the 95% confidence level was assessed with the help of F Snedecor probability distribution. Changes in precipitation characteristics show mixed patterns. In the majority of analyzed cities, annual precipitation totals tend to decrease, however, there is no clear spatial pattern. In general, seasonal tendencies of summer and winter precipitation, and especially autumn precipitation, also show negative tendencies. However, the sums of precipitation in the spring season are generally characterized by positive tendencies. In the vast majority of analyzed cities, the number of days with precipitation decreases, as well as the number of days with extreme precipitation. Decreasing or stable precipitation together with increasing air temperature may result in water insecurity in many Polish cities.

Humans, since their first appearance on earth, act on the terrestrial crust by continuously interpreting and reorganizing the laws of nature. In principle, the operations they carry out are simple, they help to ensure a safe and secure place. In this geographical theatre, where anthropic actions follow one another in time, terrestrial walkways engrave and create hierarchies of the spatial components of this great mosaic. The first to rise are the ridge routes, without natural obstacles, able to guarantee control and safety from attacks, consequently those halfway up the coast with less difficult distances, and finally the valley floor routes mark the transition from nomadism to a stationary condition with a market-type economy. These flows, passing along the distances, connect river and sea routes, generate urban nuclei along the coastline and in the valley floor, connecting knowledge and knowledge with others. The outcome of the transformation process depicts man as the machine of the territory capable of acting on the earth's crust. In this image of human beings in search of shelter and protection, the archetypes that govern the disciplines of the earth arise: from the way of building to the primitive structures of aggregation. Man, defanging time, undertakes a long journey characterized by multiple actions that observe the past for the future, giving a new meaning to formal relationships between signs, promoting the encounter between semiotics and aesthetics. The analytical line that connects it to modern man, is the use of an endless intellectual reflection on the interpretations of the signs that the physis has transmitted over the centuries. This slow process of transformation gives space to a complex meaning, triggering a continuous cross-reference between sign and drawing. What emerges, is an anthropocentric context, where the anthropic structures are articulated in irreversible forms. The footprints left on the ground, erased and transformed by time are re-read and interpreted with the eyes of other disciplines, investigating whether the resilience of forms and archetypes are present. With the support of cartography, painting and psychoanalysis, we attribute different and possible meanings to the colours of this scenario.

The Ilukste oil station pipelines diesel fuel from Belorus to the seaport town Ventspils in Latvia. In 1970-1996, the station also filled railway tanks. Due to oil leakages, groundwater under the railway terminal routes was contaminated. Mobile oil discharged from a steep bank of the nearby Ilukste river. To prevent oil inflow into the river, a special pond was dug for its intercepting. In 1996, remediation of the station area started and followed up until now. The work was supervised and financed by the station owner LatRosTrans Ltd. Since 2000, it was performed by the environmental company VentEko. In 1997, scientists of Riga Technical University (RTU) established the hydrogeological model of the contaminated area. Due to use of the model and the code ARMOS, a disposition of the oil leakage source was found. The oil plume self-cleaning for about 25 years was predicted due to oil natural run off into the pond. In 2018, RTU assessed results of the sanitation. It was found out that the remediation process had reached its final stage, as productivity of the oil recovery was getting low. Comparison of the real sanitation results with the predicted course of the oil plume natural run off showed that the both processes differed mainly due to a repeated oil leakage in the area of the railway terminal. The case confirmed considerable value of the predictions that were obtained by modelling.

The Marderello torrent, located at an altitude ranging from 3538m to 900 m above sea level (Novalesa, Cenischia Valley, in Province of Turin) is known for its peculiar capability to generate, with relative frequency, important mud flows and debris (muddy debris flow). Accordingly, the CNR-IRPI (National Research Council) of Turin, since more than twenty years ago, selected this site in order to carry out field observations and measurements campaign. In this paper the muddy-debris flow event, occurred and monitored on July 22, 2016, was considered. The simulation of debris flow phenomena was performed by a 2D Finite Volume Method, solving PDE (Partial Differential Equation) based on the shallow-water approach, through a commercial numerical software. The mathematical-numerical model, beside hydrodynamic model, may also include solid transport and movable river bottom, not explored yet at this stage of the research. First of all, a morphological vectorial model of the basin under study was created and implemented as inputs. The inflow boundary conditions, deriving from the hydrogram consisting of values measured at the monitoring gauge were considered. Several parametric analyses were performed in order to individuate the best values fitting the experimental data concerning the estimated height of the front over time. To this purpose, different available rheological options such as Turbulent-Coulomb, Turbulent-Yield, Turbulent-Coloumb-Yield, and Full Bingham were selected and tested. The comparison with the values collected by the monitored event allowed to define the best values of the parameters to be used. The selected approach and the related model construction can be considered useful and suitable tools in order to study and to simulate this kind of phenomena.

Innovative products from the assortment of wood based panels – fibreboard composites are characterized by considerable diversification potential, which also gives them adequate development opportunities and predetermines their perspective. Besides the possibility of variable application and modification of disintegrated wood with chemical auxiliaries, the development potential is determined, in particular by using their dimensional diversity of wood particles - the degree of wood disintegration, which at the same time determines the level of transformation of the natural properties of wood into a large-scale wood product. By optimizing the manufacturing process of the preparation of fibrous wood composites by chemical modification with apply of waste lignocellulose preparations, as a new innovative product – fibrous based environmentally acceptable wood composites with the higher qualitative and hygienic characteristics can be prepared to expand the assortment of required products currently required by the woodworking industry. An important aspect of the sustainable ecologically acceptable production of wood fibrous composites is to reduce the formaldehyde emission content of used adhesives by adding lignocellulose additives. The aim of our research was the proposal, experimental preparation and evaluation of the selected properties of fibrous wood composites with the addition of substances based on modified lignocellulose waste (from pulp and paper industry). The result of the research is the proposals for innovation of existing technologies in the production of environmentally acceptable innovative products, thus expanding the range of wood products demanded from furniture industry and customers.

However, as a result of efforts to improve the environment, while maintaining the required qualitative characteristics, global developments in the field of wood materials (as raw materials of the 21st century) have led to the development of new or effective modifications of existing technologies, focusing on reducing the emission of formaldehyde and other toxic components in polycondensation adhesives applied to the preparation of composite wood materials. The suggested problem means reciprocal replacement of the toxic components of currently produced polycondensation adhesives (especially phenol-formaldehyde), e.g. kraft black liquors, which can be isolated as a secondary raw material from the pulp and paper industry in the production of sulphate pulp. Sulphate liquros are characterized by a relatively low reactivity to formaldehyde, thus are requiring their incorporation into the polymeric matrix of mixed lignin-phenol-formaldehyde polycondensate. For this reason, it is necessary to modify the reactivity of the original kraft black liquors by the modification reactions. New methods of processing sulphate liquors are focused only on the use of some components of black liquors or on the production of high-price products, which can be applied economically but especially "eco-friendly" in the preparation of wood composite materials as adhesives. The article deals with the problem of effective utilization waste of kraft black liquor from pulp and paper industry, which are possible apply in various modification treatment as reciprocal replacement of polycondensative adhesives for preparation of wood based composite materials. In our research, we focused on proposal of innovative adhesives mixtures which were applied for production of eco-progressive wood based composite materials with better hygienical properties and significantly reducing the content of toxic formaldehyde in adhesive mixtures.

In the processes of surface treatment of specific wood products, a variety of coatings are used, which even in small-scale production represent the presence of certain hazardous chemicals. Risk substances from the group of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in surface treatment processes of wood products constitute a large number of contaminants that negatively affect both the working and the environment. These are, in particular, still used solvent-based coatings (CN, PUR, PES). The presence of solvents, thinners for consistency and viscosity treatment in coating processes and curing of these coatings a serious environmental risk even in small surface treatment operations in the production of special wood products (sporting goods, musical instruments, artistic and solitary wood articles). To solve the suggested problem, it is necessary to analysed all aspects that could reduce the production of these hazardous chemical substances. We have proposed a variety of eco-technical separation devices: using adsorption technologies with (or without) regeneration of adsorbent for effective capturing of pollutant emissions. Our research has been comparing the effectiveness of capture of pollutants (VOC) in small scale model plant surface treatments of special wood products.