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Found 6674 publications
Preface on "Natural hazards' impact on natural and built heritage and infrastructure in urban and rural zones"
Publication Name: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Publication Date: 2025-10-27
Volume: 25
Issue: 10
Page Range: 4181-4183
Description:
This is an overview of the papers published in the special issue.
Open Access: Yes
The Autonomous Software Stack of the FRED-003C: The Development that LED to Full-Scale Autonomous Racing
Publication Name: IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium Proceedings
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 1661-1667
Description:
Scientific development often takes place in the context of research projects carried out by dedicated students during their time at university. In the field of self-driving software research, the Formula Student Driverless competitions are an excellent platform to promote research and attract young engineers. This article presents the software stack developed by BME Formula Racing Team, that formed the foundation of the development that ultimately led us to full-scale autonomous racing. The experience we gained here contributes greatly to our successful participation in the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League. We therefore think it is important to share the system we used, providing a valuable starting point for other ambitious students. We provide a detailed description of the software pipeline we used, including a brief description of the hardware-software architecture. Furthermore, we introduce the methods that we developed for the modules that implement perception; localisation and mapping, planning, and control tasks.
Open Access: Yes
Institutional factors and environmental performance: Insights from global economies
Publication Name: Economic Systems
Publication Date: 2026-06-01
Volume: 50
Issue: 2
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study investigates how institutional quality, democratic governance, political orientation and economic policy uncertainty influence environmental performance across different economies globally. Even if there is literature that highlights the importance of strong institutions and democracy for environmental outcomes, empirical evidence remains inconsistent. Using data from 130 countries between 1996 and 2018, we apply a two-stage approach: first, estimating environmental performance via a stochastic frontier, and then analyzing institutional factors with a FEGLS regression and time lags to address endogeneity. The results reveal that strong institutional quality significantly improves environmental performance (β = 0.032), with its impact amplified in countries with medium and high levels of democracy (interaction terms: β = 0.012 and β = 0.010, respectively). While democracy alone exerts a mixed effect, the presence of robust institutions offsets the negative influence of economic policy uncertainty (β = −0.0273). This study provides new insights into the interplay between institutional quality and governance in fostering environmental sustainability. It also offers policy implications for achieving a balance between economic growth and ecological preservation.
Open Access: Yes
Photosynthetic Activity Measured In Situ in Microalgae Cultures Grown in Pilot-Scale Raceway Ponds
Joaquín Pozo Dengra
Francisco Gabriel Acién Fernández
Bernardo Cicchi
Marta Barceló-Villalobos
João Artur Câmara Manoel
Cintia Gómez-Serrano
João Artur Câmara Manoel
Victor A. Robles Carnero
Karolína Ranglová
Juan Luis Gómez Pinchetti
V. Ördög
Ana Margarita Silva Benavides
Giuseppe Torzillo
Jiří Masojídek
Félix Lopez Figueroa
Publication Name: Plants
Publication Date: 2024-12-01
Volume: 13
Issue: 23
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The microalga Scenedesmus sp. (Chlorophyceae) was cultured in a raceway pond (RWP) placed in a greenhouse. The objective of this case study was to monitor the photosynthesis performance and selected physicochemical variables (irradiance, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration) of microalgae cultures in situ at various depths of RWP. The data of actual photochemical yield Y(II), the electron transport rate monitored by in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic oxygen production both in situ and ex situ revealed that (i) even in diluted cultures (0.6 g DW L−1), the active photic layer in the culture was only about 1 cm, indicating that most of the culture was “photosynthetically” inactive; (ii) the mechanism of non-photochemical quenching may not be fast enough to respond once the cells move from the surface to the deeper layers; and (iii) even when cells were exposed to a high dissolved oxygen concentration of about 200% sat and higher, the cultures retained a relatively high Y(II) > 0.35 when monitored in situ. The presented work can be used as exemplary data to optimize the growth regime of microalgae cultures in large-scale RWPs by understanding the interplay between photosynthetic activity, culture depth and cell concentration.
Open Access: Yes
Comparison of Barrier Surveillance Algorithms for Directional Sensors and UAVs
Publication Name: Sensors
Publication Date: 2024-07-01
Volume: 24
Issue: 14
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Border surveillance and the monitoring of critical infrastructure are essential components of regional and industrial security. In this paper, our purpose is to study the intricate nature of surveillance methods used by hybrid monitoring systems utilizing Pan–Tilt–Zoom (PTZ) cameras, modeled as directional sensors, and UAVs. We aim to accomplish three occasionally conflicting goals. Firstly, at any given moment we want to detect as many intruders as possible with special attention to newly arriving trespassers. Secondly, we consider it equally important to observe the temporal movement and behavior of each intruder group as accurately as possible. Furthermore, in addition to these objectives, we also seek to minimize the cost of sensor usage associated with surveillance. During the research, we developed and analyzed several interrelated, increasingly complex algorithms. By leveraging RL methods we also gave the system the chance to find the optimal solution on its own. As a result we have gained valuable insights into how various components of these algorithms are interconnected and coordinate. Building upon these observations, we managed to develop an efficient algorithm that takes into account all three criteria mentioned above.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/s24144490
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Pile-Supported Embankments for Loose Sandy Soils
Publication Name: Buildings
Publication Date: 2023-09-01
Volume: 13
Issue: 9
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This research focuses on advancing the geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankment technology over loose sandy soil. A small-scale laboratory model supported by floating piles and a geotextile layer was constructed, and a numerical model was validated against laboratory measurements. This study aims to achieve a more uniform distribution of the load over all piles of the system via a parametric study that analyzes the influence of embankment fill material, horizontal reinforcement scenarios, pile cap shape, and pile type. The results demonstrate that using embankment fill with high cohesion and internal friction properties leads to a significant reduction of 46% and 37% in maximum settlements, respectively, and similarly, results in a noteworthy reduction of 48% and 50% in differential settlements. The incorporation of two geotextile layers contributes to a reduction of up to 30% in maximum settlement. The utilization of plus-shaped caps in small areas, with an area equal to three times the cross-sectional area of the pile, has been substantiated as the preeminent approach for the reduction of settlements. Piles with caps also present better behavior regarding differential settlements compared to longer piles and piles with bigger diameters under the same volume condition.
Open Access: Yes
Managing soil health for climate resilience and crop productivity in a changing environment
Publication Name: Science of the Total Environment
Publication Date: 2025-10-20
Volume: 1000
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Healthy soil is essential for life on Earth, valued for its ability to sustain productivity, provide ecosystem services, support biodiversity, socioeconomic structure, food security, and promote environmental health. However, climate-induced changes, such as extreme weather events, shifting precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures, can disrupt essential soil processes. Climate change, combined with unsustainable soil management practices, can accelerate soil degradation, loss soil organic matter, reduce soil moisture retention, intensify erosion, disrupt nutrient cycling, and increase greenhouse gas emission. An increase in temperature of 1 °C is estimated to increase pest incidence by 10–25 % and reduce major crop yields by up to 7.4 %. Enhancing soil health strengthens plant resilience, suppresses disease development, and safeguards agroecosystems against the adverse effects of climate extremes. The growing recognition of the central role of soil in both agricultural and environmental sustainability has therefore driven interest in holistic strategies that integrate advanced agronomic practices, innovative technologies, and enabling policy frameworks to sustainably manage and restore soil health. This review examines recent advances in soil management strategies, highlighting the integration of interdisciplinary approaches to strengthen soil health as a basis for climate change resilience and increased crop productivity. Our synthesis emphasizes the importance of tailoring agricultural management practices such as soil amendments, diverse cropping systems, beneficial microbes, conservation agriculture, precision agriculture, and innovative technologies to specific soil and environmental contexts. By adopting these strategies through an interdisciplinary approach, we can improve soil productivity, sustain agroecosystem functions, and mitigate negative environmental impacts, ensuring the capacity of soil to meet the demands of a changing world.
Open Access: Yes
Experimental Validation and Optimization of a Hydrogen–Gasoline Dual-Fuel Combustion Model in a Spark Ignition Engine with a Moderate Hydrogen Ratio
Publication Name: Energies
Publication Date: 2025-07-01
Volume: 18
Issue: 13
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Hydrogen–gasoline dual-fuel spark ignition (SI) engines represent a promising transitional solution toward cleaner combustion and reduced carbon emissions. In a previous study, a predictive engine model was developed to simulate the performance and combustion characteristics of such systems; however, its accuracy was constrained by the use of estimated combustion parameters. This study presents an experimental validation based on high-resolution in-cylinder pressure measurements performed on a naturally aspirated SI engine operating with a 20% hydrogen energy share. The objectives are twofold: (1) to refine the combustion model using empirically derived combustion metrics, and (2) to evaluate the feasibility of moderate hydrogen enrichment in a stock engine configuration. To facilitate a more accurate understanding of how key combustion parameters evolve under different operating conditions, Vibe function was fitted to the ensemble-averaged heat release rate curves computed from 100 consecutive engine cycles at each static full-load operating point. This approach enabled the extraction of stable and representative metrics, including the mass fraction burned at 50% (MFB50) and combustion duration, which were then used to recalibrate the predictive combustion model. In addition, cycle-to-cycle variation and combustion duration were also investigated in the dual-fuel mode. The combustion duration exhibited a consistent and substantial reduction across all of the examined operating points when compared to pure gasoline operation. Furthermore, the cycle-to-cycle variation difference remained statistically insignificant, indicating that the introduction of 20% hydrogen did not adversely affect combustion stability. In addition to improving model accuracy, this work investigates the occurrence of abnormal combustion phenomena—including backfiring, auto-ignition, and knock—under enriched conditions. The results confirm that 20% hydrogen blends can be safely utilized in standard engine architectures, yielding faster combustion and reduced burn durations. The validated model offers a reliable foundation for further dual-fuel optimization and supports the broader integration of hydrogen into conventional internal combustion platforms.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/en18133501
A Risk Assessment Technique for Energy-Efficient Drones to Support Pilots and Ensure Safe Flying
Publication Name: Infrastructures
Publication Date: 2023-04-01
Volume: 8
Issue: 4
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, also known as UAVs, play an increasingly important part in daily life. However, the ever-increasing number of UAVs pose an ever-increasing threat to the transportation infrastructure. Despite their precision and general efficiency, infrastructural-scale Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) have a disadvantage regarding their capability of being implanted in the ecosystem. There are several reasons for this, but the primary bottleneck is that their systems are not transparent to society and have very complicated processes. As a result, the authors decided to investigate the functional properties of UASs and make improvements to those properties. Throughout the study, the authors’ primary focus was on analysis, which boosts productivity and ensures a significant level of safety for routine flights. The amount of power that a UAV uses depends on several variables, including the amount of power that its individual components require, the temperature of its surroundings, and the condition of the battery that it is powered by. Therefore, critical parameters and interdependencies are taken into account in the risk assessment strategy for energy-efficient Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In the case of UAVs, the algorithm performs a risk calculation before take-off to estimate the amount of risk that can be associated with the given flight time when using the provided battery. On the one hand, several instances of the pre-take-off state and how its parameters interact are investigated. On the other hand, they demonstrate the calculation of the risk while in flight, which is based on actual flight data.
Open Access: Yes
