Environmental Engineering
I. Alazzam; K. Shatanawi; R. Al-Weshah
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Jordan is among the most water-scarce countries in the world. The scarcity of water resources in Jordan is driving the development and advances of non-conventional water techniques that enable integrated management of water resources in addressing water scarcity challenges ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Jordan is among the most water-scarce countries in the world. The scarcity of water resources in Jordan is driving the development and advances of non-conventional water techniques that enable integrated management of water resources in addressing water scarcity challenges and promoting sustainable water use. Water harvesting of rainwater and fog techniques is one of the viable solutions to mitigate the water scarcity effects in Jordan. This study aimed to evaluate the quantity of rainwater and fog collected through the utilization of solar panels, while also conducting a feasibility analysis on the economic and environmental aspects of employing solar panels for rainwater and fog harvesting in a solar farm situated in Jordan.METHODS: In the present study, an in-situ experiment is conducted to investigate rainwater and fog harvesting from solar panels' surfaces that are widely spread in Jordan. The solar farm situated in Hai Al Sahabah, south of Amman, Jordan, incorporates an experimental arrangement that involves the installation of gutters, pipes, and water tanks beneath two solar panel samples. These panels have a total area of 4 square meters and will be monitored for a duration of 60 days.FINDING: The results of the experiment show that the total quantity of the harvested rainwater using two solar panels was 444 liters ranging from 0.8 liters per day to 117.66 liters per day, and the total harvested fog quantity was 28 liters ranging from 0.25 liters per day to 9.75 liters per day. The multilinear regression technique was employed to establish a correlation between the amount of harvested water and the crucial factors of wind direction, wind speed, relative humidity, and temperature at the solar farm. The analysis of the findings revealed a significant relationship between these variables. These relationships can be generalized to provide an estimation for the quantity of rainwater and fog harvesting in other locations. The quantity of harvested rainwater was primarily influenced by wind speed and direction, the quantity of harvested fog was mainly affected by relative humidity and temperature. The current study aims to analyze and deliberate on the collected amounts of water obtained through rainwater and fog harvesting from solar panels. The viability of implementing the method of rainwater and fog harvesting from solar panels will be examined in terms of economic and environmental factors.CONCLUSIONS: The quantity of rainwater gathered in this research with just two solar panels shows great potential for widespread use as a supplementary water supply. This method of rainwater and fog harvesting can be effectively applied to solar power plants which are widely spread in Jordan for use in solar panel cleaning, agriculture, groundwater recharge, and reducing stormwater discharge to assess and manage the risk of environmental damage. Rainwater and fog harvesting systems offer a higher level of efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to other methods, especially when seamlessly integrated into the infrastructure of solar power plants. The benefits of solar panels by producing clean energy are not negotiable but combining energy production with water harvesting in solar power plants would offer even more advantages in enhancing the global environmental situation.
Environmental Engineering
Naharuddin .; Rukmi .; S.D. Massiri; B. Toknok; Akhbar .; I.N. Korja
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peak flow in watershed is important in designing and controlling soil erosion, as well as assessing the potential water yield. It also serves as a basis for assessing and managing the risk of environmental damage. However, there is no accurate information on peak flow to ensure ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peak flow in watershed is important in designing and controlling soil erosion, as well as assessing the potential water yield. It also serves as a basis for assessing and managing the risk of environmental damage. However, there is no accurate information on peak flow to ensure sustainable management and conservation of Wuno Sub-Watershed in Palu Watershed which serves as a buffer for the capital of Central Sulawesi Province. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and determine the potential runoff and peak flows in watershed using soil conservation service-curve number.METHODS: Soil conservation service-curve number method was calculated to analyze rainfall from runoff as a function of cumulative rainfall, land use, soil type, and humidity. This method was developed by the United States Soil Conservation Service in 1972 and applied in this study with due consideration for several variables, including (a) land use classification and intensity for settlements, rice fields, plantations, rivers, etc., (b) basic physical conditions of the area such as rainfall and hydrology, as well as (c) classes of soil hydrology significantly influencing carbon-nitrogen value.FINDINGS: The result showed that carbón-nitrogen values for all types of land use or cover were in normal conditions from 5 to 25 years. Moreover, carbón-nitrogen range was observed to have significantly large quantitative consequences on direct runoff. The trend showed the need for precision and effectiveness in planning watershed management and conservation. Soil conservation service also had a positive influence on land use, specifically runoff, as observed in carbón-nitrogen values for return periods of 2, 5, 25, and 100 years. However, several other factors were identified to influence land use such as land cover and soil texture.CONCLUSION: Soil Conservation Service presented an analysis of how land use affected runoff, specifically with a focus on carbon-nitrogen values. Land use was not only affected by carbon-nitrogen values but other factors such as land cover and geomorphometric properties. The trend showed the need for a more comprehensive exploration of soil conservation service-curve number method in accurately predicting runoff patterns in sub-watershed areas to ensure effective and sustainable management and conservation practices.
Environmental Engineering
A. Suharyanto; A. Maulana; D. Suprayogo; Y.P. Devia; S. Kurniawan
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the relationships between land cover presented by vegetation index and land surface temperature, between vegetation index and the built-up index, between built-up index and land surface temperature, and between land surface temperature and rainfall ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the relationships between land cover presented by vegetation index and land surface temperature, between vegetation index and the built-up index, between built-up index and land surface temperature, and between land surface temperature and rainfall characteristics in East Java Province, Indonesia.METHODS: Three cities and four regencies were used as examples. Landsat imagery scanned in 1995, 2001, 2015, and 2020 were used. Daily rainfall data recorded in the same years with Landsat data are used. The pixel values along the urban heat island line were used to analyze the interrelationships between vegetation index, built-up index, and land surface temperature. The land surface temperature and daily rainfall data from each Thiessen polygon were used to analyze the relationship between land surface temperature and rainfall characteristics. Image processing analysis was used to analyze the vegetation index, built-up index, and land surface temperature. The mathematical interrelationship between vegetation index, built-up index, land surface temperature, and rainfall intensity was analyzed using linear regression.FINDINGS: The results of the analysis show that the relationship between vegetation index and built-up index is inversely proportional and with land surface temperature is nearly inversely proportional to a coefficient of determination greater than 0.5. For the relationship between the built-up index and land surface temperature, the results of the analysis show that both have a directly proportional relationship, with a significant coefficient of determination (R2>0.5). For the relationship between land surface temperature and rainfall characteristics, the results of the analysis show that land surface temperature has a directly proportional but weak relationship with rainfall intensity and an inversely proportional but weak relationship with the number of rainfall days. Decreasing environmental conditions indicated by decreasing vegetation index will influence increasing land surface temperature and its effect on increasing rainfall intensity and decreasing rainfall days.CONCLUSION: Changes in land use/land cover are characterized by a change in vegetation cover to built-up land. These changes affect the land surface temperature. Changes in land surface temperature affect the occurrences of rainfall intensity. When the vegetation index decreases, the built-up index increases, and the land surface temperature increases as well. The increase in land surface temperature will increase the rainfall intensity. Satellite remote sensing imagery is effective and efficient for analyzing vegetation index, built-up index, and land surface temperature.
Environmental Engineering
G.R. Puno; R.A. Marin; R.C.C. Puno; A.G. Toledo-Bruno
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The study explored the capability of the geographic information system interface for the water erosion prediction project, a process-based model, to predict and visualize the specific location of soil erosion and sediment yield from the agricultural watershed of Taganibong.METHODS: ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The study explored the capability of the geographic information system interface for the water erosion prediction project, a process-based model, to predict and visualize the specific location of soil erosion and sediment yield from the agricultural watershed of Taganibong.METHODS: The method involved the preparation of the four input files corresponding to climate, slope, land management, and soil properties. Climate file processing was through the use of a breakpoint climate data generator. The team had calibrated and validated the model using the observed data from the three monitoring sites.FINDINGS: Model evaluation showed a statistically acceptable performance with coefficient of determination values of 0.64 (probability value = 0.042), 0.85 (probability value = 0.000), and 0.69 (probability value = 0.001) at 95% level, for monitoring sites 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A further test revealed a statistically satisfactory model performance with root mean square error-observations standard deviation ratio, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, and percent bias of 0.62, 0.61, and 44.30, respectively, for monitoring site 1; 0.65, 0.56, and 25.60, respectively, for monitoring site 2; and 0.60, 0.65, and 27.90, respectively, for monitoring site 3. At a watershed scale, the model predicted the erosion and sediment yield at 89 tons per hectare per year and 22 tons per hectare per year, respectively, which are far beyond the erosion tolerance of 10 tons per hectare per year. The sediment delivery ratio of 0.20 accounts for a total of 126,390 tons of sediments that accumulated downstream in a year.CONCLUSION: The model generated maps that visualize a site-specific hillslope, which is the source of erosion and sedimentation. The study enables the researchers to provide information helpful in the formulation of a sound policy statement for sustainable soil management in the agricultural watershed of Taganibong.
