Analysis of the remediation of coal tar-contaminated groundwater using ex situ remediation

The article describes the remediation of contaminated groundwater during the ex situ remediation of coal tar contamination following the closure of a coking plant in the Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech Republic). The aim of the article is to point out the advantages of ex situ soil remediation via the excavation of the contaminated geological environment combined with thermal desorption, a method of removing contaminants both from soil and groundwater. Its advantage is the absolute qualitative and quantitative control over the contaminated soil with the possibility of precise segmentation into contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Next, all contaminated groundwater may be pumped off upon the construction of sealing walls to control groundwater flows. To excavate the soil, it is necessary to reduce the contaminated groundwater level inside the sealing walls and thus create conditions for the extraction of contaminated soils using standard machinery. In detail, the article describes the removal of the contaminated groundwater and compares the quality of the pumped and inflowing water before and after the remediation. The locality is characteristic of a high horizontal and vertical grain-size heterogeneity of gravel-sand, which led to a varying filtration coefficient affecting the capacities of pumped groundwater quantity during the remediation. At the start of the remediation process, the contaminant levels exceeded the limits by the Czech Environmental Inspectorate several times. The post-remediation monitoring showed that all the contaminant levels were below the limit. Surprisingly, the overall groundwater contamination amounted to 232.86 t of contaminants as non-aqueous phase liquids, and 6872.9 kg of dissolved contaminants. As much as 12,200 t of contaminants were removed from the soil.Web of Science1414art. no. 218

Using Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) to Support Safe Navigation on Inland and Coastal Water Zones

The aim of this research is to propose a new solution to assist sailors in safe navigation on inland shallow waters by using Augmented and Virtual Reality. Despite continuous progress in the methodology of displaying bathymetric data and 3D models of the bottoms, there is still a lack of solutions promoting these data and their widespread use. Most existing products present navigation content on 2D/3D maps onscreen. Augmented Reality (AR) technology revolutionises the way digital content is displayed. This paper presents the solution for the use of AR on inland and coastal waterways to increase the safety of sailing and other activities on the water (diving, fishing, etc.). The real-time capability of AR in the proposed mobile application also allows other users to be observed on the water in limited visibility and even at night. The architecture and the prototype Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) applications are presented. The required AR, including the preparation methodology supported by the Virtual Reality Geographic Information System (VRGIS), is also shown. The prototype’s performance has been validated in water navigation, specifically for exemplary lakes of Warmia and Mazury in Poland. The performed tests showed the great usefulness of AR in the field of content presentation during the navigation process

Using Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) to Support Safe Navigation on Inland and Coastal Water Zones

The aim of this research is to propose a new solution to assist sailors in safe navigation on inland shallow waters by using Augmented and Virtual Reality. Despite continuous progress in the methodology of displaying bathymetric data and 3D models of the bottoms, there is still a lack of solutions promoting these data and their widespread use. Most existing products present navigation content on 2D/3D maps onscreen. Augmented Reality (AR) technology revolutionises the way digital content is displayed. This paper presents the solution for the use of AR on inland and coastal waterways to increase the safety of sailing and other activities on the water (diving, fishing, etc.). The real-time capability of AR in the proposed mobile application also allows other users to be observed on the water in limited visibility and even at night. The architecture and the prototype Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) applications are presented. The required AR, including the preparation methodology supported by the Virtual Reality Geographic Information System (VRGIS), is also shown. The prototype’s performance has been validated in water navigation, specifically for exemplary lakes of Warmia and Mazury in Poland. The performed tests showed the great usefulness of AR in the field of content presentation during the navigation process

Using the geodetic and hydroacoustic measurements toinvestigate the bathymetric and morphometric parameters ofLake Hancza (Poland)

Most of the inland lakes do not have up-to-datebathymetry. However, a significant progress in surveyingtechnologies creates a possibility to quickly and accuratelydescribe the underwater environment. Modern geodeticand global positioning techniques integrated with hydroacousticsystems provide a great opportunity to study thebottom shape with high resolution. Our study presentsa reliable methodology for investigation of bathymetryand morphometric parameters with the use of GNSS positioningtechniques and single beam echosounder. Theresearch was implemented on the deepest, glacial reservoirin the central part of European Depression - LakeHancza. Direct hydroacoustic and geodetic measurementscompleted by sediment study were conducted by the authorsin 2010-2013. After performing a field survey the DigitalElevation Model was constructed and the new bathymetricmap and morphometric card were elaborated. Themaximum depth was confirmed to be 105.55 m. The finalconclusions show that the available bathymetric data andmorphometric parameters of lakes are highly dependenton the research methodology used, the precision and accuracyof measurement techniques, proper water level determination,digital elevation model and bathymetric mapelaboration processes

A New Strategy for Improving the Accuracy of Aircraft Positioning Using DGPS Technique in Aerial Navigation

In this paper a new mathematical algorithm is proposed to improve the accuracy of DGPS (Differential GPS) positioning using several GNSS (Global Navigation Satellites System) reference stations. The new mathematical algorithm is based on a weighting scheme for the following three criteria: weighting in function of baseline (vector) length, weighting in function of vector length error and weighting in function of the number of tracked GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites for a single baseline. The algorithm of the test method takes into account the linear combination of the weighting coefficients and relates the position errors determined for single baselines. The calculation uses a weighting scheme for three independent baselines denoted as (1A,2A,3A). The proposed research method makes it possible to determine the resultant position errors for ellipsoidal BLh coordinates of the aircraft and significantly improves the accuracy of DGPS positioning. The analysis and evaluation of the new research methodology was checked for data from two flight experiments carried out in Mielec and Dęblin. Based on the calculations performed, it was found that in the flight experiment in Mielec, due to the application of the new research methodology, DGPS positioning accuracy improved from 55 to 94% for all the BLh components. In turn, in the flight experiment in Dęblin, the accuracy of DGPS positioning improved by 63–91%. The study shows that the highest DGPS positioning accuracy is seen when using weighting criterion II, the inverse of the square of the vector length error

Engineering-geological comparative analysis of four cases studies of waste landfills

Abstract The aim of the paper is to carry out a comparative engineering-geological study of four different waste landfills using the evaluation criteria for the geological subsoil as a natural sealing barrier. The study evaluates 4 localities (Velké Pavlovice, Kvítkovice, Prakšice and Horní Suchá) using three variants (based on two standards) which approach the geological barrier requirements as a combination of impermeability requirements based on a filtration coefficient limit value. and the required geometry represented by investigation depths. The research was carried out in landfills in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The study’s motivation is to point at the differences in engineering-geological investigations of waste landfills (as for the requirements for impermeable geological subsoil as a natural sealing barrier) when compared with other engineering structures (where the main goal is to evaluate load-bearing capacity and settlement). The purpose of the geological barrier is to prevent the spread of contamination, and the paper shows this can be approached differently, as shown in two different methodologies investigated herein. The first model (Model 1) assumes there is a 3-m-thick subsoil below the landfill’s footing bottom, which manifests impermeability characterized by the filtration coefficient Kf ≤ 1.0 * 10–9 m/s, or a 30-m-thick subsoil of Kf ≤ 1.0 * 10–8 m/s. The second model (Model 2) assumes a 1-m thick, impermeable subsoil massif of Kf ≤ 1.0 * 10–9 m/s. We found that none of the landfills in the four selected localities had an impermeable layer in the required depth (a filtration coefficient Kf from 1.8 * 10–9 to 3.9 * 10–9 m/s), and thus did not comply with the limiting conditions. As a result, an anthropogenic technical barrier had to be installed. An important goal of the study from an environmental point of view was to assess the existence of a suitable geological barrier under the proposed landfills. The most important criterion from this point of view is permeability. An additional technical objective of the project was also the assessment of the possible creation of a technical anthropogenic isolation barrier. In the event that the natural sealing barrier would not be sufficient. This was shown in all solved case studies of engineering geological investigations of waste landfills

Bathymetric monitoring of alluvial river bottom changes for purposes of stability of water power plant structure with a new methodology for river bottom hazard mapping (Wloclawek, Poland)

The aim of this research was to produce a new methodology for a special river bottom hazard mapping for the stability purposes of the biggest Polish water power plant: Wloclawek. During the operation period of the water power plant, an engineering-geological issue in the form of pothole formation on the Wisla River bed in the gravel-sand alluvium was observed. This was caused by increased fluvial erosion resulting from a reduced water level behind the power plant, along with frequent changes in the water flow rates and water levels caused by the varying technological and economic operation needs of the power plant. Data for the research were obtained by way of a 4-year geodetic/bathymetric monitoring of the river bed implemented using integrated GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), RTS (Robotized Total Station) and SBES (Single Beam Echo Sounder) methods. The result is a customized river bottom hazard map which takes into account a high, medium, and low risk levels of the potholes for the water power plant structure. This map was used to redevelop the river bed by filling. The findings show that high hazard is related to 5% of potholes (capacity of 4308 m(3)), medium with 38% of potholes (capacity of 36,455 m(3)), and low hazard with 57% of potholes (capacity of 54,396 m(3)). Since the construction of the dam, changes due to erosion identified by the monitoring have concerned approximately 405,252 m(3)of the bottom, which corresponds to 130 Olympic-size pools. This implies enormous changes, while a possible solution could be the construction of additional cascades on the Wisla River.Web of Science2017art. no. 500

Engineering-geological study of relationships between soil and rock workability, type and volume of excavated materials, and earthwork costs (six case studies)

Abstract The engineering-geological study deals with the study of significance and relationship of soil and rock workability (factor representing the engineering-geological structure of rock massif) and the remaining earthwork parameters influencing the cost of construction work, such as excavation type and its technology, and excavated cubic volume. The comparative tool was the cost of earthwork as it reflects the real value of the given parameters during the implementation of earthwork. Soil and rock workability is the most important parameter of rock massif engineering-geological structure during any earthwork. The investor pays the contractor for earthwork based on workability classes which have their accounting value expressed as a volume unit of earthwork per particular project. The research results arise from a comparison of 6 sewer system construction project case studies in the north-east of the Czech Republic. The research shows that the most important factor during the implementation of earthwork is the specific engineering-geological structure (52%), which reflects in the parameter of soil and rock workability classes, using which all earthwork is priced. The second most important factor (33%) is the type of excavation and its technology. The least important is the excavated cubic volume (15%), which means the overall cubic volume of earthwork. The results were obtained within three evaluation approaches, where the comparison unit was one cubic meter of excavated volume during earthwork

Investigation of a hazardous uncontrolled dumpsite in an oxbow lake of the Nitra River for pollution potential: a case study

This paper deals with the engineering-geological investigation of uncontrolled dumpsites that are abundant in post-communist countries. The sites may be redeveloped in an optimal manner by using the applied methodology of engineering-geological investigations. The research tool is a case study dealing with hazardous uncontrolled dumpsites chemically contaminated by various substances, particularly carcinogenic chromium. The dumpsite is located in the alluvial sediments of an oxbow lake of the Nitra River in the Slovak Republic. The hazard is seen in the fact that the alluvial sediments are permeable and thus the contamination may spread easily. At the same time, it is located near a river, which makes the hazard greater. Apart from the risk of contamination, another risk is related to the methane generated by the dumpsite and thus the risk of self-ignition. In order to identify the uncontrolled dumpsite body, the research was grounded in the different physical properties of the diverse geological environments. Quasi-homogenous blocks of the dumpsite body and its alluvial surroundings were well identified by using the combined three geophysical methods, namely dipole electromagnetic profiling (DEMP), electrical resistance tomography (ERT) and spontaneous polarization (SP). In order to eliminate the risk of contamination spread, redevelopment measures for the uncontrolled dumpsite in the form of sealing walls and surface sealing foil were proposed. A system of methane drainage boreholes was proposed to eliminate the risk of self-ignition. The methodology in this case study is well applicable for other uncontrolled dumpsites, which is an important outcome of the study.Web of Science1921art. no. 4

Soil contamination by tar in the alluvial sediments: case study of the brownfield remediation project in the Czech Republic

The paper aims to analyse the remediation of soils contaminated by black coal tar and other contaminants in relation to risk limits in the different geological environments. The research was implemented as a case study in one of the most expensive remediation projects of contaminated soils in alluvial sediments, in the locality of a former coking plant Karolina in an industrial city of Ostrava in north-east of the Czech Republic. Based on the level of risk, three contaminated geological environments (layers) were selected, which were examined for chemical limits that must be complied with after remediation using ex situ thermal desorption. Around 1.5 million tons (10,720 wagons of 72 m(3) and 14 m) of contaminated soils were dug out, which were subsequently treated ex situ by means of thermal desorption. In total, 12,200 t of contaminants were removed, among which non-polar extractable substances (NPES) amounted to 67.94% (8289 t), benzene to 12.25% (1494 t), naphthalene to 11.27% (1375 t), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to 6.43% (784 t), benzo(a)pyrene to 1.11% (135 t), phenol to 0.82% (99 t), arsenic to 0.16% (20 t) and mercury to 0.02% (3 t). The most hazardous in terms of contact with humans was the top layer of quaternary alluvial fine-grained soils (3664 t of removed contaminants, 30% of all contamination-layer I). However, the most contaminated layer was the lowest, permeable layer of quaternary alluvial gravel sediments (7479 t of removed contaminants, 61% of all contamination-layer III). The contamination penetrated into the highly permeable layer due to gravity and could not migrate further due to the abundance of impermeable Miocene grey-blue clay.Web of Science79