The issues of scouring around a bridge have become prominent in recent research mainly due to recurrent extreme weather events. Thus, designing a bridge with the appropriate protection measures is essential to safeguard it against failure, which may take place due to scouring from high flows resulting from extreme weather events. Bridges may become partially or entirely submerged during extreme weather events such as large floods and are subject to pressure-flow scour, a condition where the flow is directed downward and under the bridge deck, creating an increase in flow velocity and a corresponding increase in bed scour. This study aims to explore the pressure-flow scour depth under a bridge deck without piers in the presence of two vertical wall abutments under clear water experiments. Sixty-six tests were conducted involving the approach flow depth, bed material size, contraction length, contraction width, and bridge opening for both pressure and free surface flow conditions. An empirical equation was deduced to determine the maximum scour depth, which could be applied as a preliminary design for bridges under pressure-flow conditions. The experimental data were used to determine the performance of the earlier models of pressure-flow scour. The results revealed that for pressure-flow conditions, the maximum scour depth increased by a factor between 2.15 and 9.81 times the maximum scour depth under free surface flow conditions. With same flow depth, when the relative bridge length was increased from 5 to 7.5 and 7.5 to 10, the maximum scour depth decreased by up to about 7.4% and 2.3%, respectively. When the relative bridge width was decreased from 5.5 to 5.2 and 5.2 to 4.4, the maximum scour depth increased by up to about 45.6% and 81.2%, respectively.

Sludge management in petroleum refineries is a costly and complex challenge, posing environmental risks and health hazards for humans. This study explores sludge incineration as a viable energy recovery method, using a case study from an Iranian refinery. Analysis of 15 sludge samples via bomb calorimetry revealed an average heat value of 3100 kcal/kg, which declines with increased moisture content, while higher chemical oxygen demand (COD) enhances energy yield. Over five years, 4000 tonnes of accumulated sludge presented an energy potential of 12,400 Gcal. Statistical modeling, including polynomial regression and response surface methodology (RSM), mapped sludge storage profiles and predicted calorific values based on COD and moisture variations. The results indicate anaerobic digestion at greater depths reduces organic matter, lowering energy potential. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirmed key thermal transitions, supporting sludge incineration as an effective waste-to-energy strategy. Implementing this approach within a circular economy framework can optimize refinery waste management while reducing pollution, though proper combustion byproduct control is essential for sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Flow measurements in pipelines using slug tracer have proved highly accurate for turbulent flow. This study experimentally investigates the effectiveness of using a passive rotor on the accuracy of discharge measurements in sewer pipes based on a saline slug tracer technique. For this purpose, a saline injector stack was developed to help inject saline at selected injection points. A passive axial flow rotor was also proposed and encased in the injector stack to enhance the mixing of injected tracer with the transmitted downstream flow and to decrease the required minimum mixing length. It was found that adding the passive rotor significantly increased the accuracy of the flow measurements. Two tracer flow formulas were developed: one based on the dimensional analysis approach and the other based on a semi-empirical formula obtained from the mass conservation approach. The resultant formulas compared favourably with flow metering, especially when utilizing the passive fan unit.

The digitalisation of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) data is critical for the preservation of heritage assets under environmental stress. This paper presents the technical development of a digital demonstrator for the British Academy-funded project BLUE-HeArTS (BLUE Heritage through Art, Technology, and Science), which connects scientific monitoring with artistic and historic educational narratives. The study focuses on the Reculver Towers medieval church and Roman Fort site in Kent, UK, a heritage site highly vulnerable to coastal erosion. To integrate complex, multi-modal data, a three-dimensional (3D) digital model was engineered in Unity. This digitalisation process combines high-resolution 3D laser scans of the towers and surrounding topography with surface-related remote sensing datasets, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) maps. Additionally, the model integrates subsurface NDT data, specifically topographically corrected Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data, to visualise the structural integrity of sea defence areas. By digitalising these diverse datasets, ranging from electromagnetic subsurface profiles to thermal surface maps, into a single immersive environment, the system supports a holistic representation of climate-driven risks. To assess technical viability, performance was evaluated using established geospatial Extended Reality metrics. This formed the basis for frame rate profiling across different hardware configurations, including Quest 2 and 3, to measure real-time rendering efficiency. Computational efficiency was further analysed through GPU and CPU utilisation during dynamic data toggling. The performance analysis corroborates that rendering complexity remains a primary bottleneck, causing GPU overload and dropped frame rates. This study establishes a technical foundation for heritage and environment conservation digitalisation, highlighting the need for rendering optimisation.

Surface water in semi-arid and arid regions has been adversely affected by climate change, compounded by their inherent environmental conditions. One such area is East Africa, which consists of small reservoirs, pans, and non-perennial rivers that provide critical water resources for people, livestock, and ecosystems [1]. However, these water resources are poorly monitored and highly variable in space and time. Recent global water products overlook small and ephemeral water bodies due to the spatial resolution of the satellite data used and the target scale [2]. This monitoring gap is particularly consequential because pastoral adaptation in the region is tightly shaped by the timing and distribution of water; socio-ecological studies emphasise that tracking environmental variability is essential for understanding how mobility patterns respond to climate change [3]. Remote sensing techniques offer a way to address this gap by identifying changes in water systems, including the emergence and disappearance of temporary water bodies. The objective of this study is to develop a framework that facilitates understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns of these water bodies, providing a foundation for subsequent analyses of pastoral nomadic movements and resource-use dynamics. Here, we present a multi-year monitoring framework that integrates Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical imagery to map surface-water dynamics. We develop Sentinel-1/2 stacks for a monthly compositing window, derive spectral water indices, perform spectral analysis, and include topographic variables. We use a basic classifier trained on multi-year reference data and produce a 10m water mask. Further, time-series metrics for water occurrence, duration, the number of wet spells, and transition frequency are produced. The preliminary results indicate a trend in changes to the temporal surface water and the extent of permanent water bodies. The results reveal strong contrasts between permanent lakes and reservoirs, seasonal floodplains, and highly ephemeral channels and pans. A good understanding of the pattern and location of such water bodies contributes to informed support for livelihoods in the region and to sustainable water resource management. Keywords: Arid And Semi-arid; Water Resources; Remote Sensing; Pastoral Mobility; Sar; Optical Imagery; East Africa, Sentinel-1/2 Acknowledgements: The Authors would like thank the following trusts, charities, organisations and individuals for their generosity in supporting this project: The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust, The Schroder Foundation, The Cazenove Charitable Trust, The Ernest Cook Trust, Sir Henry Keswick, Ian Bond, P. F. Charitable Trust, Prospect Investment Management Limited, The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust, John Swire Charitable Trust, The Samuel Storey Family Charitable Trust, The Tanlaw Foundation, and The Wyfold Charitable Trust. References[1] Sigopi M, Shoko C, Dube T. Advancements in remote sensing technologies for accurate monitoring and management of surface water resources in Africa: an overview, limitations, and future directions. Geocarto Int 2024;39:2347935.[2] Miura Y, Shamsudduha M, Suppasri A, Sano D. A Global Multi-Sensor Dataset of Surface Water Indices from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 Satellite Measurements. Sci Data 2025;12:1253.[3] Cho, M.A., Mutanga, O. and Mabhaudhi, T. Adaptation to climate change in pastoral communities: a systematic review through a social-ecological lens. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 2025 17(1), pp.246-267.

The study on Digital Twins (DT) in South Africa emphasizes DT's role in enhancing the efficiency of management and governance within the Water-Energy-Food nexus. By integrating data across energy, agriculture, and water sectors, DT provides a more cohesive and informed approach to decision-making where various stakeholders with multiple interests are involved. This integration enables streamlined governance processes and optimal resource utilization. Currently, governance in South Africa's water, energy, and food sectors is characterized by a mix of state and private involvement. The energy sector is overseen by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and includes state-owned entities, alongside private independent power producers and regulatory bodies. In agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development plays a key role, with additional input from various agricultural bodies and NGOs. Water rights are state-owned, managed by the Department of Water and Sanitation, and regulated through licenses, with local management by water boards and municipalities. The land is a mix of private and state ownership, with a focus on agricultural development and reform. By understanding the priorities and influences of different groups, anticipating conflicts, and fostering cooperation, through DTs, we can ensure that initiatives for environmental conservation are more widely successful.