The water resources of Zhytomyr region are an important national asset, the condition of which affects people's health, economic development and the "good" environmental condition of the region. The current state of water resources in Zhytomyr region is of some concern due to a number of challenges, including: water pollution with organic materials, nutrients and toxic elements due to incomplete or no wastewater treatment, leaching of pollutants from agricultural land and plastic waste. The challenges also include limited access to quality drinking water in some regions, underdeveloped water supply and sanitation systems, unregulated water consumption and violations of water protection regulations, and hydromorphological changes related to hydropower and water flow regulation, including problems with coastal protection zones and water protection zones, as well as the effects of climate change, including floods and droughts.Taking this into consideration, conducting a SWOT analysis for the use and conservation of water resources in Zhytomyr region gets a particular relevance. The purpose of the study is to conduct a SWOT analysis that will not only allow a deeper analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the regional water management system, but also to identify potential opportunities for improvement and risk reduction. The SWOT analysis will serve as the basis for developing strategies that will promote the conservation and rational use of water resources, strengthen the environmental well-being of the region, and ensure sustainable economic development and public health in Zhytomyr Region.
Background: Air pollution is a persistent and critical challenge for Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. The city’s unique topographical and meteorological conditions—being located in a mountain basin with dense urban development—restrict natural ventilation and contribute to frequent exceedances of air quality standards. These factors make accurate assessment and management of atmospheric pollution particularly urgent for the region. Aim: This study aims to develop and apply a novel, high-resolution three-dimensional numerical model to analyze the spatial distribution of key atmospheric indicators—air velocity, temperature, and pollutant concentrations in Almaty. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how meteorological and urban factors influence air quality, with a focus on both horizontal and vertical stratification. Methods: A three-dimensional computational model was constructed, integrating real meteorological data and detailed urban topography. The model solves the compressible Navier–Stokes, energy, and pollutant transport equations using the finite volume method over a 1000 × 1000 × 500 m domain. Meteorological fields are synthesized along all spatial axes to account for vortex structures, urban heat islands, and stratification effects. This approach enables the simulation of atmospheric parameters with unprecedented spatial resolution for Almaty. Results: The simulation reveals significant spatial heterogeneity in atmospheric parameters. Wind velocity ranges from 0.31 to 5.76 m/s (mean: 2.14 m/s), temperature varies between 12.03 °C and 19.47 °C (mean: 16.12 °C), and pollutant concentrations fluctuate from 5.02 to 102.35 μg/m3 (mean: 44.87 μg/m3). Notably, pollutant levels in the city center exceed those at the periphery by more than two-fold (68.23 μg/m3, 29.14 μg/m3), and vertical stratification leads to a marked decrease in concentrations with altitude. These findings provide, for the first time, a comprehensive and quantitative picture of air quality dynamics in Almaty. Conclusion: The developed model advances the scientific understanding of urban air pollution in complex terrains and offers practical tools for city planners and policymakers. By identifying pollution hotspots and elucidating the influence of meteorological factors, the model supports the optimization of urban infrastructure, zoning, and environmental monitoring systems. This research lays the groundwork for evidence-based strategies to mitigate air pollution and improve public health in Almaty and similar urban environments.
From the point of view of the system approach, the interrelation in the system “highway repair – environment” was investigated, which allowed systematizing the main aspects of environmental impact during the technological process of road repair. As a result of the parametric analysis of the subsystems that make up the system, the main groups of environmental parameters that are subject to the effects of technological processes of road repair were identified. The mathematical model of cause-effect relationships in the system under study allows identifying the main aspects of environmental impact during technological processes of road construction and reconstruction. Its application in environmental impact assessment allows forming a criteria base for environmental impact assessment. The article defines the relationship between the process of performing a certain stage of repair work on the project of construction of the highway of state importance N-31 Dnipro – Tsarychanka – Kobeliaky – Reshetylivka and its impact on the environment.