Extreme precipitation events, which are common natural hazards, are expected to increase in frequency due to global warming, leading to various types of floods, including pluvial floods. In this study, we investigated the probabilities of maximum 3-day precipitation amount (Rx3day) occurrences during spring in the Vojvodina region, covering both past (1971–2019) and future (2020–2100) periods. We utilized an ensemble of eight downscaled, bias-corrected regional climate models from the EURO-CORDEX project database, selecting the RCP8.5 scenario to examine future Rx3day amounts. The probabilities of occurrences of Rx3day were modeled using the GEV distribution, while the number of events where Rx3day in spring exceeds specific thresholds was modeled using the Poisson distribution. The results indicate that Rx3day with a ten-year return period during the spring months is expected to increase by 19% to 33%. Additionally, the probabilities of having more than one event where Rx3day exceeds thresholds are projected to rise by 105.6% to 200.0% in the future compared to the historical period. The analysis comparing the design values of Rx3day with future projections for the period 2020–2100 revealed that 51 drainage systems are likely to function without difficulties under future climate conditions. However, for the remaining 235 drainage systems, an increased risk of pluvial flooding was identified, as their design precipitation amounts are lower than the future projections. This study reveals that analyzing extreme rainfall events in the context of climate change yields crucial information that facilitates effective planning and policy making in water management, particularly flood protection.
In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly important as a tool for quickly collecting high-resolution (spatial and spectral) imagery of the Earth's surface. The final products are highly dependent on the choice of values for various parameters in flight planning, the type of sensors, and the processing of the data. In this paper ground control points (GCPs) were first measured using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) method, and then due to the low height accuracy of the GNSS RTK method all points were measured using a detailed leveling method. This study aims to provide a basic assessment of quality, including four main aspects: (1) the difference between an RGB sensor and a five-band multispectral sensor on accuracy and the amount of data, (2) the impact of the number of GCPs on the accuracy of the final products, (3) the impact of different altitudes and cross flight strips, and (4) the accuracy analysis of multi-altitude models. The results suggest that the type of sensor, flight configuration, and GCP setup strongly affect the quality and quantity of the final product data while creating a multi-altitude model does not result in the expected quality of data. With its unique combination of sensors and parameters, the results and recommendations presented in this paper can assist professionals and researchers in their future work.
The process of integration into the European Union (EU) requires from new member states significant efforts; not only harmonizing legislation but also respecting all posed standards. Among numerous issues, wastewater purification represents a significant request. To achieve the goal of discharging good-quality water into natural water bodies as recipients, various methods have been used. The method of constructed wetland (CW) is based on wastewater purification by using wetland plants. The method of CWs shows the best results for small settlements for up to 5,000 inhabitants and can be nicely integrated within the landscape of a plain where waterbodies’ banks are overgrown by wetland plants. Such facilities have been used for decades in the territory of the EU, and only a few have been built in the Republic of Serbia. Since the Republic of Serbia is a candidate country for the EU, there is a strong intention to take action focused upon solving wastewater purification from various sources. Therefore, this paper aims to examine favourable locations for CW installations within the rural area of the South Bačka District. Geographic information system was applied for examination of the basic spatial criteria (distance from the settlement, distance from water bodies, elevation, and land use). These were presented in separate maps and finally in one joint map of favourability for establishing CWs in the vicinity of 35 villages within the District. The obtained results have fulfilled the basic spatial preconditions, but further analyses should be conducted to precisely position the location of each CW concerning land ownership criterion.
With the continuous trend of urbanization, increase in industrial capacities, and expansion of agricultural areas, there is also a rise in the amount of wastewater. One of the effective and economical solutions for wastewater treatment has proven to be Constructed Wetlands (CWs). Defining the locations where CWs can be built is not an easy task and there are several criteria that need to be considered. The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis—Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) are combined to select CW locations. AHP is one of the most commonly used methods in many environmental decision making problems, involving various conflicting criteria. In this case, conflicts arise between the evaluation of criteria that influence the selection of CW locations. The evaluation of selected criteria and sub-criteria resulted in a suitability map indicating that the first class represents 44%, the second class 37%, and the third class 16% of the total area. The fourth and fifth classes represent 3% of the total area. The criteria with the highest significance are land use, floodplains and distance of the location from populated places. This study has important implications for sustainable wastewater management in Serbia and provides guidelines for selecting locations for CWs.
1 September 2023 in Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S
Extreme hydrological events, such as floods and droughts, are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change, leading to negative impacts on various economic sectors. The Pannonian-Carpathian Basin is particularly affected by the increasing frequency of hazardous hydrological events. Agricultural production, which is a highly significant economic sector in the region, is particularly vulnerable to these unfavourable climatic conditions. Changes in precipitation patterns and soil moisture levels can lead to reduced crop yields, while floods can pollute water sources and erode fertile soil. Mapping of Inland Excess Water (IEW), also known as ponding water or waterlogged areas, is crucial for informed decision-making, damage compensation, risk management, and future prevention planning. Remote sensing technology and machine learning have been demonstrated to be valuable tools for the mapping of IEW. The 2014 floods in Southeastern and Central Europe serve as a reminder of the importance of effective flood risk management. This study used a Geographical Information System (GIS) and a Semi-automated Classification Processing (SCP) tool to process high-resolution RapidEye satellite images from the 2014 floods in the Srem region of Serbia. The Spectral Angle Mapping (SAM) classification model was used to produce a map of IEW. The SAM model achieved an overall accuracy of 92.68 %. The study found that IEW affected approximately 2.90 % or 99.59 km² of the territory in Srem. The obtained maps can be used by responsible water management agencies to prevent and control excessive inland water.