Internet of Things for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change

Our world is vulnerable to climate change risks such as glacier retreat, rising temperatures, more variable and intense weather events (e.g., floods, droughts, and frosts), deteriorating mountain ecosystems, soil degradation, and increasing water scarcity. However, there are big gaps in our understanding of changes in regional climate and how these changes will impact human and natural systems, making it difficult to anticipate, plan, and adapt to the coming changes. The IoT paradigm in this area can enhance our understanding of regional climate by using technology solutions, while providing the dynamic climate elements based on integrated environmental sensing and communications that is necessary to support climate change impacts assessments in each of the related areas (e.g., environmental quality and monitoring, sustainable energy, agricultural systems, cultural preservation, and sustainable mining). In the IoT in Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change chapter, a framework for informed creation, interpretation and use of climate change projections and for continued innovations in climate and environmental science driven by key societal and economic stakeholders is presented. In addition, the IoT cyberinfrastructure to support the development of continued innovations in climate and environmental science is discussed

Internet of Things for Water Sustainability

The water is a finite resource. The issue of sustainable withdrawal of freshwater is a vital concern being faced by the community. There is a strong connection between the energy, food, and water which is referred to as water-food-energy nexus. The agriculture industry and municipalities are struggling to meet the demand of water supply. This situation is particularly exacerbated in the developing countries. The projected increase in world population requires more fresh water resources. New technologies are being developed to reduce water usage in the field of agriculture (e.g., sensor guided autonomous irrigation management systems). Agricultural water withdrawal is also impacting ground and surface water resources. Although the importance of reduction in water usage cannot be overemphasized, major efforts for sustainable water are directed towards the novel technology development for cleaning and recycling. Moreover, currently, energy technologies require abundant water for energy production. Therefore, energy sustainability is inextricably linked to water sustainability. The water sustainability IoT has a strong potential to solve many challenges in water-food-energy nexus. In this chapter, the architecture of IoT for water sustainability is presented. An in-depth coverage of sensing and communication technologies and water systems is also provided

The relationship between biodiversity and the biomass of grasslands in the Zagreb area (NW Croatia)

Research into the floristic and ecological characteristics of grasslands in the Zagreb area was conducted in June and July 2020. Eight localities were processed, each containing two 1m2 plots. The floristic composition of each quadrat was analysed and the presence of two vegetation communities, Festuco-Brometea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, was determined. Although indigenous taxa dominate, two invasive plants: Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) Torr. et A. Gray and Erigeron annuus (L.) Desf. have been recorded. Based on the functional traits of taxa, the functional diversity of plots was calculated and compared with the number of taxa and the weight of plant biomass collected within the plots. Functional diversity values ranged from 1.121 to 2.060 and dry biomass from 251.4 to 586.8 g m-2 per quadrat. Correlation analyses linked a decrease in the number of taxa and functional diversity with an increase in biomass and specific leaf area. Functional diversity is positively correlated with the number of taxa, plant dry matter content and leaf dry matter content. It is necessary to conduct this type of research in other grassland communities in Croatia to obtain more detailed insights into the relations of these parameters