Earth Observation in the EMMENA Region: Scoping Review of Current Applications and Knowledge Gaps

Earth observation (EO) techniques have significantly evolved over time, covering a wide range of applications in different domains. The scope of this study is to review the research conducted on EO in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa (EMMENA) region and to identify the main knowledge gaps. We searched through the Web of Science database for papers published between 2018 and 2022 for EO studies in the EMMENA. We categorized the papers in the following thematic areas: atmosphere, water, agriculture, land, disaster risk reduction (DRR), cultural heritage, energy, marine safety and security (MSS), and big Earth data (BED); 6647 papers were found with the highest number of publications in the thematic areas of BED (27%) and land (22%). Most of the EMMENA countries are surrounded by sea, yet there was a very small number of studies on MSS (0.9% of total number of papers). This study detected a gap in fundamental research in the BED thematic area. Other future needs identified by this study are the limited availability of very high-resolution and near-real-time remote sensing data, the lack of harmonized methodologies and the need for further development of models, algorithms, early warning systems, and services

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Application of geostatistical methods to groundwater salinization problems: A review

Groundwater salinization is considered to be one of the most severe and complex phenomena affecting coastal regions worldwide, occurring when high concentrations of water-soluble salts are present in groundwater systems. Geostatistics is a branch of statistics used to analyze and predict the spatio-temporal variability of such complex phenomena. In particular, numerous geostatistical approaches and technologies are currently used to identify and map salinity-affected regions, investigate how salinity indicators influence groundwater mechanisms, and eventually design optimal groundwater management policies. This article reviews recent key applications of geostatistical methods to address challenges relevant to groundwater salinization. The basic principles of geostatistics are briefly described, and numerous studies are discussed that employ geostatistical and multivariate tools for identifying the origin of salinity sources, clarifying the relationship among salinity indicators and groundwater processes, and propagating the uncertainty of the inputs to the outputs of either physically-based or surrogate models of relevant geological systems. Finally, several recommendations and future directions are identified with regards to the most popular methods and with regards to key geostatistical methods whose application in this thematic area is still very limited

An explicit algebraic closure for passive scalar-flux: Applications in channel flows at a wide range of reynolds numbers

In this paper, we propose an algebraic model for turbulent scalar-flux vector that stems from tensor representation theory. The resulting closure contains direct dependence on mean velocity gradients and quadratic products of the Reynolds stress tensor. Model coefficients are determined from Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) data of homogeneous shear flows subjected to arbitrary mean scalar gradient orientations, while a correction function was applied at one model coefficient based on a turbulent channel flow case. Model performance is evaluated in Poiseuille and Couette flows at several Reynolds numbers for Pr = 0.7, along with a case at a higher Prandtl number (Pr = 7.0) that typically occurs in water–boundary interaction applications. Overall, the proposed model provides promising results for wide near-wall interaction applications. To put the performance of the proposed model into context, we compare with Younis algebraic model, which is known to provide reasonable predictions for several engineering flows

FluxTracer: A Ray Tracer Postprocessor to Assist in the Design and Optimization of Solar Concentrators and Receivers

This paper presents FluxTracer, an advanced open source computer tool to assist in the analysis, design, and optimization of solar concentrators and receivers. FluxTracer is a postprocessor for Monte Carlo ray tracers used to simulate the optical behavior of solar concentrating systems. By postprocessing the rays generated by the ray tracer, FluxTracer can partition into volumetric pixels (voxels) a region of interest in three-dimensional (3D) space defined by the user and compute for each voxel the radiant power density of the concentrated solar radiation. Depending upon the set of rays provided by the ray tracer, it may be able to integrate the radiant power density in every voxel over time. The radiant energy density analysis described is just one of the analyses that FluxTracer can carry out on the set of rays generated by the ray tracer. This paper presents the main analyses that FluxTracer can provide. It also presents examples of how the information provided by FluxTracer can be used to assist in the analysis, design, and optimization of solar concentrators and receivers. FluxTracer is the first of a series of components of an open-source computational framework for the analysis, design, and optimization of solar concentrators and receiver, being developed by The Cyprus Institute (CyI) and the Australian National University (ANU).Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative, Funder ID. 10.13039/ 501100005105). Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (Cyprus Solar Thermal Energy Chair for the Eastern Mediterranean—CySTEM/ 667942, Funder ID. 10.13039/100010661)

Review of application of AI techniques to Solar Tower Systems

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly playing a significant role in the design and optimization of renewable energy systems. Many AI approaches and technologies are already widely deployed in the energy sector in applications such as generation forecasting, energy efficiency monitoring, energy storage, and overall design of energy systems. This paper provides a review of the applications of key AI techniques on the analysis, design, optimization, control, operation, and maintenance of Solar Tower systems, one of the most important types of Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) systems. First, key AI techniques are briefly described and relevant examples of their application to CST systems in general are provided. Subsequently, a detailed review of how these AI techniques are being used to advance the state of the art of solar tower systems is presented. The review is structured around the different subsystems of a solar tower system