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Fernando Morante-Carballo is a research coordinator at the Center for Research and Projects Applied to Earth Sciences (CIPAT) at ESPOL and a professor in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He has been published in more than 50 publications, 4 of them editions and book authorships, with more than 10 research projects, and around 24 service/consulting projects. He received his PhD in Geology Engineering, with a specialty in Mining, Environment, and Natural Zeolites from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain. He has been a Principal Professor at ESPOL for more than 15 years.
Universities have the mission to serve society by being pragmatic, diverse, and multidisciplinary. Similar to society in general, these centers have a common challenge: finding a way to articulate projects that favor the demands and needs of vulnerable rural sectors. In this case, the community-university partnership is based on the interaction of the Manglaralto population, represented by the Junta Administradora del Agua Potable Regional de Manglaralto and the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), both from Ecuador. Specifically, it is based on a collaborative relationship since 2005, through the Centro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a Ciencias de la Tierra (CIPAT) of the ESPOL. This work aims to evaluate the community-university partnership through the results obtained in community work projects. In addition, it describes the resolution of problems reached on the sustainability of water resources in the parish of Manglaralto (Ecuador). The methodology was based on (i) the description of the existing community-university interaction framework, (ii) the analysis of the community projects that CIPAT developed in the period 2017–2020, and finally, (iii) the evaluation of the impact of the actions carried out on the sustainability of the coastal aquifer. The community-university partnership has generated relevant information (e.g., water reserves, extraction processes, aquifer recharge, and care of the resource) for the community and has allowed for the strengthening and transmitting of knowledge in different specialties (education, culture, and environment). In the 2017–2020 period, four community projects were carried out with students, researchers, and the inhabitants of the rural area of Manglaralto. These projects allowed wells for water extraction and engineering structures such as dikes and green filters that help the use and recharge the aquifer. In addition, the initiatives carried out made it possible to inform the population of the importance of the sustainable exploitation of water resources. In general, this work made it possible to identify a natural laboratory of human interaction in which the results obtained are based on the collaboration and contribution of all the participating actors.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; María Jaya-Montalvo; Denise Rodríguez; Carolina Loor-Flores de Valgas; Edgar Berrezueta. Community-University Partnership in Water Education and Linkage Process. Study Case: Manglaralto, Santa Elena, Ecuador. Water 2021, 13, 1998 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Gricelda Herrera-Franco, María Jaya-Montalvo, Denise Rodríguez, Carolina Loor-Flores de Valgas, Edgar Berrezueta. Community-University Partnership in Water Education and Linkage Process. Study Case: Manglaralto, Santa Elena, Ecuador. Water. 2021; 13 (15):1998.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; María Jaya-Montalvo; Denise Rodríguez; Carolina Loor-Flores de Valgas; Edgar Berrezueta. 2021. "Community-University Partnership in Water Education and Linkage Process. Study Case: Manglaralto, Santa Elena, Ecuador." Water 13, no. 15: 1998.
Research on natural zeolites (NZ) has increased over the years, showing potential in different areas, and many of them involve cation exchange (CE), considered one of the essential properties of NZ. This work aims to identify studies’ cognitive structure based on the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of NZ through bibliometric analysis to evaluate scientific production, growth trend, and visualization through bibliometric maps using the VOSviewer software. All types of documents and all languages indexed in Scopus from 1970 to 2020 were considered for the database, obtaining 703 documents. The results indicate an increasing trend in CE annual publications in NZ. This analysis shows the most influential authors such as Daković, Wang and Colella, while the countries that stand out are China, Turkey and the United States. Besides, the bibliometric maps made it possible to understand the intellectual structure of this academic discipline, identifying areas of current and potential interest in this field of studies such as its application in medicine, agriculture, catalysts, heavy metal removal, wastewater treatment (WWT), bioremediation and construction. Finally, these studies showed trends in science and technology studies favoring environmental remediation and human health.
Fernando Morante-Carballo; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Nathaly Espinoza-Santos. Cation Exchange of Natural Zeolites: Worldwide Research. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7751 .
AMA StyleFernando Morante-Carballo, Néstor Montalván-Burbano, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Nathaly Espinoza-Santos. Cation Exchange of Natural Zeolites: Worldwide Research. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7751.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando Morante-Carballo; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Nathaly Espinoza-Santos. 2021. "Cation Exchange of Natural Zeolites: Worldwide Research." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7751.
Society faces a significant problem in regards to the spread of harmful products in the environment, primarily caused by accelerated growth and resource consumption. Consequently, there is a need for materials to be processed in less harmful ways and to remedy the contaminated sources they generate. Microporous materials have been studied for a long time and are used in waste treatment alternatives. Natural zeolites, on which this study is based, are attractive to the scientific and technological communities, due to their numerous applications as decontaminants and adsorption properties. This study analyzes the intellectual structures of publications related to natural zeolites in environmental remediation, using bibliometric methods to determine their volumes and trends. The methodology comprises of an analysis based on 1582 articles, using VOSviewer software, with data from 1974 to 2020, via the Scopus database. Results reflect a notable increase in publications from the end of the 1990s; the greatest contribution in the area comes from Eurasian countries. The study considers that development in this line of research will continue to increase and serve as a great contribution to preserve the environment in coming years, with themes that focus on water treatment (e.g., drinking water, wastewater, greywater), removal of heavy metals, ammonium, ammonia, and construction.
Fernando Morante-Carballo; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Kelly Jácome-Francis. Worldwide Research Analysis on Natural Zeolites as Environmental Remediation Materials. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6378 .
AMA StyleFernando Morante-Carballo, Néstor Montalván-Burbano, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Kelly Jácome-Francis. Worldwide Research Analysis on Natural Zeolites as Environmental Remediation Materials. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6378.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando Morante-Carballo; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Kelly Jácome-Francis. 2021. "Worldwide Research Analysis on Natural Zeolites as Environmental Remediation Materials." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6378.
The Zaruma-Portovelo mining district in Ecuador, and in particular, Portovelo City, is home to the oldest mining museum in the country. This museum, named Museo Mineralógico Magner Turner (MMMT in Spanish), is a centre that reflects, through its collections, the history and culture of this territory. This work aimed to evaluate the MMMT as a possible geosite by analysing its contributions to the geomining heritage of the Zaruma-Portovelo district, and thus, to enhance it and promote its collections as a geotouristic attraction. The work involved three phases: (i) describing the museum and its surroundings; (ii) a semiquantitative evaluation of the museum using the Brilha method and a geosites assessment model (GAM); and (iii) a qualitative evaluation using the Delphi and SWOT methodologies to define strategies and proposals for museum development. The results obtained by the semiquantitative evaluation of the geosite with the Brilha method reflect high scientific (330/400), educational (380/400) and touristic (365/400) appeal. The applied GAM shows the museum as a geosite with high principal and additional value, placing it in the Z33 field of the global valuation matrix. In addition, the semiquantitative and qualitative evaluation made it possible to describe the importance of the museum and its collections in the development of the area. The study carried out qualified the museum as a mining site with an appropriate valuation, an example of ex-situ geological heritage conservation and a basis for geotourism development.
Magner Turner-Carrión; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Israel Turner-Salamea; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Kerly Zambrano-Ruiz; Edgar Berrezueta. A Mineralogical Museum as a Geotourism Attraction: A Case Study. Minerals 2021, 11, 582 .
AMA StyleMagner Turner-Carrión, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Israel Turner-Salamea, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar, Kerly Zambrano-Ruiz, Edgar Berrezueta. A Mineralogical Museum as a Geotourism Attraction: A Case Study. Minerals. 2021; 11 (6):582.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMagner Turner-Carrión; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Israel Turner-Salamea; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Kerly Zambrano-Ruiz; Edgar Berrezueta. 2021. "A Mineralogical Museum as a Geotourism Attraction: A Case Study." Minerals 11, no. 6: 582.
Slope stability is determined by pre-conditioning and triggering factors. The evaluation of the stability by scientific criteria provides crucial input into land-use planning and development. This work aimed to evaluate the slope stability of “Las Cabras” hill (Duran, Ecuador) through geological and geotechnical analysis and a susceptibility assessment that allowed the definition of areas potentially susceptible to landslide and detachment for land planning recommendations. The methodology included (i) analysis of background information about the study area; (ii) fieldwork, sampling and laboratory tests; (iii) assessment of susceptibility to landslides and detachment through a theoretical–practical evaluation (using suggestions by various authors); (iv) a safety factor assessment employing the simplified Bishop method; and (v) analysis of the relationship between susceptibility and stability. Sixteen geomechanical stations were evaluated. Of these, seven stations are characterised as category III (medium susceptibility), six stations as category IV (high susceptibility) and three stations as category V (very high susceptibility). According to the susceptibility zoning map, 58.09% of the total area (36.36 Ha) is in the high to very high susceptibility category. The stability analysis based on 16 critical profiles shows that three of these profiles have safety factor values of less than one (0.86, 0.82 and 0.76, respectively), and two profiles have values close to one (1.02 and 1.00). The northern area is conditioned mainly by a vertical slope with an outcrop of fractured and weathered sandstones, thereby favouring rockfall. The landslide vulnerability in the case of the southern zone is principally conditioned by the fact that the slope and dip are parallel. The described characterisation and susceptibility analysis provide a basis for security measures and territorial planning.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; Josué Briones-Bitar; Fernando Morante-Carballo; David Stay-Coello; Roberto Blanco-Torrens; Edgar Berrezueta. Evaluation of Slope Stability in an Urban Area as a Basis for Territorial Planning: A Case Study. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 5013 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, Josué Briones-Bitar, Fernando Morante-Carballo, David Stay-Coello, Roberto Blanco-Torrens, Edgar Berrezueta. Evaluation of Slope Stability in an Urban Area as a Basis for Territorial Planning: A Case Study. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (11):5013.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; Josué Briones-Bitar; Fernando Morante-Carballo; David Stay-Coello; Roberto Blanco-Torrens; Edgar Berrezueta. 2021. "Evaluation of Slope Stability in an Urban Area as a Basis for Territorial Planning: A Case Study." Applied Sciences 11, no. 11: 5013.
Land cover is an important descriptor of the earth’s terrestrial surface. It is also crucial to determine the biophysical processes in global environmental change. Land-use change showcases the management of the land while revealing what motivated the alteration of the land cover. The type of land use can represent local economic and social benefits, framed towards regional sustainable development. The Amazon stands out for being the largest tropical forest globally, with the most extraordinary biodiversity, and plays an essential role in climate regulation. The present work proposes to carry out a bibliometric analysis of 1590 articles indexed in the Scopus database. It uses both Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer software for the evaluation of author keywords, authors, and countries. The method encompasses (i) search criteria, (ii) search and document compilation, (iii) software selection and data extraction, and (iv) data analysis. The results classify the main research fields into nine main topics with increasing relevance: ‘Amazon’, ‘deforestation’, ‘remote sensing’, ‘land use and land cover change’, and ‘land use’. In conclusion, the cocitation authors’ network reveals the development of such areas and the interest they present due to their worldwide importance.
Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Andrés Velastegui-Montoya; Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Marcos Adami. Worldwide Research on Land Use and Land Cover in the Amazon Region. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6039 .
AMA StyleNéstor Montalván-Burbano, Andrés Velastegui-Montoya, Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Marcos Adami. Worldwide Research on Land Use and Land Cover in the Amazon Region. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6039.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNéstor Montalván-Burbano; Andrés Velastegui-Montoya; Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Marcos Adami. 2021. "Worldwide Research on Land Use and Land Cover in the Amazon Region." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6039.
This research focuses on providing a solution to rural sectors' problems regarding solid waste management and final disposal. It considered the Sanitary Landfill (SL) technical-environmental viability for rural communities in the north of Santa Elena-Ecuador. The objective is to propose a methodology for evaluating a sanitary landfill's technical-environmental viability, considering a Key Factors Matrix (KFM) for the possibility of its application in rural communities. The proposed methodology is based on: i) identification of preliminary and field data for assessment of the sector through the KFM, and ii) determination of the technical-environmental viability of an SL according to the aspects considered. The KFM allowed the Ayangue commune to be chosen for the location of the SL under certain precautions. Given this sector's tourist influence, solid waste accumulates 40 tons per day from the ninth year on. Therefore, it is recommended to bear in mind a possible restructuring of the SL, from a semi-mechanized system to a fully mechanized one.
Fernando Morante-Carballo; Boris Apolo-Masache; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Bolívar Cedeño; Javier Montalvan-Toala. Considerations in the Methodology for the Technical-Environmental Viability of Sanitary Landfills in Rural Communities. Northern Case of the Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning 2021, 16, 317 -325.
AMA StyleFernando Morante-Carballo, Boris Apolo-Masache, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Bolívar Cedeño, Javier Montalvan-Toala. Considerations in the Methodology for the Technical-Environmental Viability of Sanitary Landfills in Rural Communities. Northern Case of the Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. 2021; 16 (2):317-325.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando Morante-Carballo; Boris Apolo-Masache; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Bolívar Cedeño; Javier Montalvan-Toala. 2021. "Considerations in the Methodology for the Technical-Environmental Viability of Sanitary Landfills in Rural Communities. Northern Case of the Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador." International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning 16, no. 2: 317-325.
The inventory and assessment of a geosite in a territory provides a sound basis for the protection and use of its geological heritage. This article aims to evaluate the most relevant geosites in the province of Chimborazo (Ecuador), applying the Spanish Inventory of Sites of Geological Interest (IELIG, in Spanish) method, and proposing alternatives for geotourism development in the studied area. The methodological process was based on: (i) the inventory and preliminary selection of geosites; (ii) a semi-quantitative geosite assessment and proposal of travel itineraries for geotourism; and (iii) the application of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) matrix to establish geotourism development strategies within a framework of sustainability. The global assessment of scientific, tourist, and academic interests demonstrates that 25% of the 20 evaluated geosites have very high interest and 75% have high interest. The top three geosites with the highest degrees of interest are the Chimborazo Volcano, known as ‘Earth’s Closest Point to the Sun’, the Pallatanga geological fault, and the geosite named Comunidad Cacha. The SWOT analysis reveals that travel itineraries that combine cultural heritage elements and geosites could offer a real alternative for the region’s sustainable development through geotourism.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; César Borja-Bernal; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Jaya-Montalvo; Alfonso Maldonado-Zamora; Nataly Paz-Salas; Edgar Berrezueta. Geosites and Geotourism in the Local Development of Communities of the Andes Mountains. A Case Study. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4624 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, César Borja-Bernal, Gricelda Herrera-Franco, Fernando Morante-Carballo, María Jaya-Montalvo, Alfonso Maldonado-Zamora, Nataly Paz-Salas, Edgar Berrezueta. Geosites and Geotourism in the Local Development of Communities of the Andes Mountains. A Case Study. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):4624.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; César Borja-Bernal; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Jaya-Montalvo; Alfonso Maldonado-Zamora; Nataly Paz-Salas; Edgar Berrezueta. 2021. "Geosites and Geotourism in the Local Development of Communities of the Andes Mountains. A Case Study." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 4624.
Modeling an aquifer provides significant advantages when evaluating and estimating the water resource for its sustainable use. This study focuses on the rural parish Manglaralto, a semi-arid area with a shortage of water, and without supply service by the public network. Still, it has a great demand for supply by the local and floating population (tourism). This has caused the coastal aquifer, which supplies the area’s water, to show signs of overexploitation, and its natural balance is compromised. The aim is to establish a geometric model of the aquifer through geological and geophysical analysis to set sustainable water-use guidelines. The methodology includes: (i) the processing of the current technical and hydrogeological information to know the aquifer’s data; (ii) geometric modeling of the aquifer through the correlation of technical information, using the GeoModeller software; (iii) proposals for the sustainable use of water in the framework of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030. The geometric model results reveal that the aquifer’s thickness varies from 4 m at the head of the river to 30 m at the sea’s mouth. The volume of water is estimated at 13.6 Hm3. The sustainable-use proposals ensure that more than half of the population receives the community company’s service. More than 40% of the territory is a protected area, and 64% of the population has sewerage service. This geometric model is a visual contribution that allows us to know the aquifer’s shape and establishes guidelines that help strengthen the water supply’s development and sustainability over time.
Paul Carrión-Mero; Ximena Quiñonez-Barzola; Fernando Morante-Carballo; F. Montalván; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; José Plaza-Úbeda. Geometric Model of a Coastal Aquifer to Promote the Sustainable Use of Water. Manglaralto, Ecuador. Water 2021, 13, 923 .
AMA StylePaul Carrión-Mero, Ximena Quiñonez-Barzola, Fernando Morante-Carballo, F. Montalván, Gricelda Herrera-Franco, José Plaza-Úbeda. Geometric Model of a Coastal Aquifer to Promote the Sustainable Use of Water. Manglaralto, Ecuador. Water. 2021; 13 (7):923.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaul Carrión-Mero; Ximena Quiñonez-Barzola; Fernando Morante-Carballo; F. Montalván; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; José Plaza-Úbeda. 2021. "Geometric Model of a Coastal Aquifer to Promote the Sustainable Use of Water. Manglaralto, Ecuador." Water 13, no. 7: 923.
In the last decade, in the mining district of Zaruma-Portovelo, there has been significant land subsidence related to uncontrolled mining activity. The purpose of this work was to carry out a surface and underground geomechanical characterization of a mining sector north of the city of Zaruma that allows the definition of potentially unstable areas susceptible to the mass movement. The methodology used consists of the following stages: (i) compilation of previous studies; (ii) surface and underground characterization of rocky material to establish its susceptibility to mass movement; (iii) interpretation of results; and (iv) proposal of action measures. Among the most relevant results, it stands out that 26.1% of the 23 stations characterized on the surface present conditions that vary from potentially unstable to unstable. In underground galleries, the studied mean values of the 17 stations indicate that the rock has a medium to good quality, representing a medium susceptibility to gallery destabilization. The results obtained for the surface areas (depths up to 50 m, where altered materials predominate) and the underground areas (depths > 50 m, where the alterations are specific) can be used to identify the areas with a more significant potential for instability. For both cases, it has been possible to define specific monitoring, control, and planning actions for sensitive areas.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Domínguez-Cuesta; Cristhian Sánchez-Padilla; Andrés Sánchez-Zambrano; Josué Briones-Bitar; Roberto Blanco-Torrens; Javier Córdova-Rizo; Edgar Berrezueta. Surface and Underground Geomechanical Characterization of an Area Affected by Instability Phenomena in Zaruma Mining Zone (Ecuador). Sustainability 2021, 13, 3272 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar, Fernando Morante-Carballo, María Domínguez-Cuesta, Cristhian Sánchez-Padilla, Andrés Sánchez-Zambrano, Josué Briones-Bitar, Roberto Blanco-Torrens, Javier Córdova-Rizo, Edgar Berrezueta. Surface and Underground Geomechanical Characterization of an Area Affected by Instability Phenomena in Zaruma Mining Zone (Ecuador). Sustainability. 2021; 13 (6):3272.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Domínguez-Cuesta; Cristhian Sánchez-Padilla; Andrés Sánchez-Zambrano; Josué Briones-Bitar; Roberto Blanco-Torrens; Javier Córdova-Rizo; Edgar Berrezueta. 2021. "Surface and Underground Geomechanical Characterization of an Area Affected by Instability Phenomena in Zaruma Mining Zone (Ecuador)." Sustainability 13, no. 6: 3272.
Coastal aquifers are strategic and fundamental in the development of touristic areas. The coastal aquifer within the Manglaralto River Basin in Ecuador is essential, as it is the only source of water supply for a large part of the northern part of the Santa Elena province. It is a semi-arid region where high volumes of water are pumped from the aquifer, causing a significant drawdown of groundwater levels, thus affecting the water quality. This work aims to characterize the characteristics of groundwater in the coastal aquifer using hydrochemistry and stable isotopes to propose a hydrogeological conceptual model. The methodology for determining the chemical and isotopic characteristics of groundwater follows the following scheme: (i) studies of ionic concentrations using the Piper diagram, (ii) assessment of the origin of salinity through the Cl/Br ratio, the presence of seawater intrusion through the Hydrochemical Facies Evolution Diagram HFE-D, (iii) characterization of precipitation events using stable isotopes (18O and 2H), and, (iv) development of a hydrogeological conceptual model of the study area. The results indicate that in the basin there are mixing processes of the existing water in the aquifer with recharge water, direct cation exchange processes in the freshening process during recharge, and evaporation in the unsaturated zone. A conceptual model of the flow system in the basin is built, based on the mentioned processes. The main conclusions are: seawater intrusion is present in the areas of the wells located closest to the coast, urban activity through septic tanks is affecting the quality of the aquifer, and rainfall is highly relevant in the different hydrochemical and isotopic processes that operate in the basin.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; F. Montalván; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Javier Heredia; F. Elorza; Joselyne Solórzano; Héctor Aguilera. Hydrochemical and Isotopic Characterization of the Waters of the Manglaralto River Basin (Ecuador) to Contribute to the Management of the Coastal Aquifer. Water 2021, 13, 537 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, F. Montalván, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Javier Heredia, F. Elorza, Joselyne Solórzano, Héctor Aguilera. Hydrochemical and Isotopic Characterization of the Waters of the Manglaralto River Basin (Ecuador) to Contribute to the Management of the Coastal Aquifer. Water. 2021; 13 (4):537.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; F. Montalván; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Javier Heredia; F. Elorza; Joselyne Solórzano; Héctor Aguilera. 2021. "Hydrochemical and Isotopic Characterization of the Waters of the Manglaralto River Basin (Ecuador) to Contribute to the Management of the Coastal Aquifer." Water 13, no. 4: 537.
Coastal aquifers are part of the natural resources contributing to local development and promote resilience in the most vulnerable communities near the sea. Manglaralto, an Ecuadorian coastal parish, is affected by water resource scarcity. The increase in salinity and deterioration of the water quality is generated by the local and floating population’s demand, causing an increase in the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentrations and decreasing the aquifer’s piezometric levels. The aim is to establish a numerical model of flow and transport of the Manglaralto coastal aquifer by using hydrogeological data and Visual Transin software, relating the hydraulic importance of a dyke’s design (“tape”) and its impact on the quality of the water. The methodology is (i) hydrogeological database analysis, (ii) the system’s recharge concerning the soil water balance, (iii) the boundary conditions of the flow and transport model and, (iv) the results and validation of the numerical simulation. The results configure the importance of the coastal aquifer’s artificial recharge in the area where the tape is located, as reflected in the increase in piezometric levels and the decrease in salinity in wells near the sea. In conclusion, the numerical model of flow and transport allows expanding the knowledge of the variation of the piezometric levels and TDS concentrations over time, the importance of recharge in the hydrogeological system’s operation, and correct community management resilience and projection to sustainable development.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; F. Montalván; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Carolina Loor-Flores de Valgas; Boris Apolo-Masache; Javier Heredia. Flow and Transport Numerical Model of a Coastal Aquifer Based on the Hydraulic Importance of a Dyke and Its Impact on Water Quality: Manglaralto—Ecuador. Water 2021, 13, 443 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, F. Montalván, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Carolina Loor-Flores de Valgas, Boris Apolo-Masache, Javier Heredia. Flow and Transport Numerical Model of a Coastal Aquifer Based on the Hydraulic Importance of a Dyke and Its Impact on Water Quality: Manglaralto—Ecuador. Water. 2021; 13 (4):443.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; F. Montalván; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Carolina Loor-Flores de Valgas; Boris Apolo-Masache; Javier Heredia. 2021. "Flow and Transport Numerical Model of a Coastal Aquifer Based on the Hydraulic Importance of a Dyke and Its Impact on Water Quality: Manglaralto—Ecuador." Water 13, no. 4: 443.
The relevant geomorphological characteristics of territory represent an essential part of its natural heritage. They are also an asset to be exploited for stimulating socio-economic development. The “Ruta Escondida” in Ecuador constitutes a historical place full of culture and landscapes that have been shaped over time by geological and geomorphological processes. Among the geomorphological features of the study area, volcanic cones, hilltops, terraces, foothills and glacial valleys stand out. The aims of this work were: (1) to characterize 18 places of geomorphological interest, located in the northern part of the Ruta Escondida and (2) to propose alternatives (geotourism) to contribute to the local development of the area. The applied methodology included: (1) the compilation of geomorphological elements; (2) the assessment of geomorphosites using the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico (IELIG) method and (3) a strengths–opportunities–weaknesses–threats analysis of the contribution and influence of geomorphosites in the development of the study area. With this work, it was possible to determine that all the analyzed geomorphological sites have a high and very high interest. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis revealed that the geomorphosites could provide significant added value to the development of geotourism on the route, complementing the already known cultural and historical attractions.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; Alicia Ayala-Granda; Sthefano Serrano-Ayala; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega; Nataly Paz-Salas; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Edgar Berrezueta. Assessment of Geomorphosites for Geotourism in the Northern Part of the “Ruta Escondida” (Quito, Ecuador). Sustainability 2020, 12, 8468 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, Alicia Ayala-Granda, Sthefano Serrano-Ayala, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar, Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega, Nataly Paz-Salas, Gricelda Herrera-Franco, Edgar Berrezueta. Assessment of Geomorphosites for Geotourism in the Northern Part of the “Ruta Escondida” (Quito, Ecuador). Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8468.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; Alicia Ayala-Granda; Sthefano Serrano-Ayala; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Miguel Gurumendi-Noriega; Nataly Paz-Salas; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Edgar Berrezueta. 2020. "Assessment of Geomorphosites for Geotourism in the Northern Part of the “Ruta Escondida” (Quito, Ecuador)." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8468.
Rockfall is one of the main phenomena in mountainous environments due to its fast and high speed of movement, its unpredictability, and, therefore, the difficulty of identifying signs of instability and detachment of the blocks. Compared to other types of sliding, the proportion of rockfall research is smaller and sometimes little known, but, in the last five years, rapid growth in this area has been shown. Therefore, this research aimed to review the intellectual structure of rockfall, through analysis of scientific production using bibliometric techniques that allow its analysis, knowledge, global evolution, and future trends in rockfall. The research methodology consists of three steps: (1) data compilation, (2) software and data cleaning, and (3) analysis, interpretation, and visualization. This analysis focuses on the period from 1975 to 2019. For the data, a total of 811 academic publications were retrieved from the Scopus database. The results indicate an increasing trend of annual publications on rockfall. This analysis reveals the main topics, countries, and most influential institutions in the world that have carried out relevant research in scientific publications; it also shows the journals that have the most publications. VOSviewer software was adopted to evaluate the co-occurrence of author keywords. Currently, the hotspots rockfall issues mainly include: hazard-risk assessment, remote sensing, and rockfall monitoring. Finally, this article analyzes the limitations of current research and proposes a future direction for the development of new research.
Josué Briones-Bitar; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Fernando Morante-Carballo. Rockfall Research: A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Trends. Geosciences 2020, 10, 403 .
AMA StyleJosué Briones-Bitar, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Néstor Montalván-Burbano, Fernando Morante-Carballo. Rockfall Research: A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Trends. Geosciences. 2020; 10 (10):403.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosué Briones-Bitar; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Fernando Morante-Carballo. 2020. "Rockfall Research: A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Trends." Geosciences 10, no. 10: 403.
Resilience has several meanings, among them the ability to overcome difficulty and return to the state of providing service, even if the initial conditions change. Assessing resilience in an ecosystem, or any system, requires a concise methodology with standard variables and parameters. The current challenge presented by coastal areas is focused on overcoming problems related to the water supply through correct management. This paper aims to evaluate the communal coastal aquifer system with a matrix for assessing water resilience based on indicators in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a socio-hydrological framework and the four axes of development (political, social, environmental, and cultural), to promote the development of new strategies for water sustainability. The method is based on (i) political, economic, social, environmental, and even cultural aspects involved in sustainable water management and (ii) the groundwater resilience assessment method (GRAM) design. The GRAM is used for a quasi-quantitative assessment of the resilience in a communal coastal aquifer system. This method was applied to the Manglaralto community; the results show a highly resilient groundwater system (62.33/100 points). Representatives of the community have achieved appropriate use, management, and conservation of the water resource by applying water harvesting and other technical criteria. Hence, they have avoided aquifer overexploitation and provided water to the community.
Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Jaya-Montalvo; M.C. Morillo-Balsera. Groundwater Resilience Assessment in a Communal Coastal Aquifer System. The Case of Manglaralto in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8290 .
AMA StyleGricelda Herrera-Franco, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar, Fernando Morante-Carballo, María Jaya-Montalvo, M.C. Morillo-Balsera. Groundwater Resilience Assessment in a Communal Coastal Aquifer System. The Case of Manglaralto in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (19):8290.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGricelda Herrera-Franco; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Jaya-Montalvo; M.C. Morillo-Balsera. 2020. "Groundwater Resilience Assessment in a Communal Coastal Aquifer System. The Case of Manglaralto in Santa Elena, Ecuador." Sustainability 12, no. 19: 8290.
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of academic research on volcanic geomorphology, through the use of bibliometric analysis and bibliographic visualization maps for the discernment of its growing interest by the academy in the last 30 years. It is sustained on the publications indexed in the Scopus database between 1956 and 2019, obtaining relevant information on scientific production, following the methodological structure of a rigorous bibliometric process, which ranges from the search for descriptors or keywords to the configuration of visualizations of tables and maps that allowed to consider the contributions by authors, institutions, journals and topics that have shaped the evolution of this field of study. The generations of bibliometric maps allowed understanding the intellectual structure of the field of study made up of 707 articles where the analysis of co-occurrence of author keywords showed six main lines of research that, combined with the co-citation maps, allowed understanding the breadth of intellectual structure. Extensive information is provided on the thematic that other investigations partially addressed or failed to capture their current status. Considering that the results allow us to identify areas of current interest and the potential of research in volcanic geomorphology.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Nataly Paz-Salas; Fernando Morante-Carballo. Volcanic Geomorphology: A Review of Worldwide Research. Geosciences 2020, 10, 347 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, Néstor Montalván-Burbano, Nataly Paz-Salas, Fernando Morante-Carballo. Volcanic Geomorphology: A Review of Worldwide Research. Geosciences. 2020; 10 (9):347.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; Néstor Montalván-Burbano; Nataly Paz-Salas; Fernando Morante-Carballo. 2020. "Volcanic Geomorphology: A Review of Worldwide Research." Geosciences 10, no. 9: 347.
Geodiversity treaties have multiplied and given rise to geological heritage as a singular value of protection and preservation for territories. The Puyango Petrified Forest (PPF) is a recognized Ecuadorian reserve, which was declared a National Heritage Treasure. It has an area of 2659 hectares, and it is located in the south of Ecuador, between the provinces of El Oro and Loja. The petrified trunks and trees were buried by volcanic lava, dating from the Cretaceous Period, 96 to 112 million years ago. Thus, silicification and carbonization, two important fossilization events, have produced hundreds of samples of paleontological wealth in Puyango. The objective of this work is to methodologically assess the geodiversity of a fraction of the PPF by registering its geological heritage and value for its preservation and sustainable development. The methodology is based on: (i) Analysis of information on the territory used for tourist visits, as a pilot study area. Presentation of paleontological components and their main sections to enhance their geotouristics value; (ii) Assessment of the geological heritage for its geotourism categorization with a recognized scientific methodology and one proposed by the co-authors propose; and (iii) Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) as a guide for protection and development strategies. Findings reveal the high geotourism potential for a Geopark Project in Puyango, since only 300 hectares are used for tourism and the remaining area is a virgin environment for research and improving knowledge of geodiversity and biodiversity.
Fernando Morante-Carballo; Geanella Herrera-Narváez; Nelson Jiménez-Orellana; Paúl Carrión-Mero. Puyango, Ecuador Petrified Forest, a Geological Heritage of the Cretaceous Albian-Middle, and Its Relevance for the Sustainable Development of Geotourism. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6579 .
AMA StyleFernando Morante-Carballo, Geanella Herrera-Narváez, Nelson Jiménez-Orellana, Paúl Carrión-Mero. Puyango, Ecuador Petrified Forest, a Geological Heritage of the Cretaceous Albian-Middle, and Its Relevance for the Sustainable Development of Geotourism. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (16):6579.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando Morante-Carballo; Geanella Herrera-Narváez; Nelson Jiménez-Orellana; Paúl Carrión-Mero. 2020. "Puyango, Ecuador Petrified Forest, a Geological Heritage of the Cretaceous Albian-Middle, and Its Relevance for the Sustainable Development of Geotourism." Sustainability 12, no. 16: 6579.
Santa Elena Peninsula is characterized by beautiful geological features, historical geoscientific knowledge, and mineral and tourism resources that could all be combined for the sake of community development. This article provides an overview of the Santa Elena Peninsula Geopark Project through the assessment of six areas that are considered by inhabitants and researchers possible geosites to foster geotourism. The methodology included: (i) a technical description and assessment of the areas of interest evaluating their geological relevance, representativeness, geotouristic prominence, geotouristic scientific interpretation, and conservation criteria; (ii) an assessment through questionnaires carried out on inhabitants; and (iii) a SWOT Plus analysis to propose strategies for promoting geotourism. Results show that the areas of interest are highly valued as geosites, since they integrate geodiversity, biodiversity, and sociocultural aspects. For example, Ancon is a historical icon of early oil exploitation, Baños de San Vicente is a natural spring of thermal water and mud volcano, and Anconcito has bituminous exudations of natural occurrence together with a spectacular landscape produced by erosion. Overall, 90% of these sites were proved to be of high and very high interest in scientific terms. Geotourism is believed to be beneficial for the inhabitants of the Santa Elena Peninsula with respect to education, valorization of resources, and the strengthening of cultural identity of communities.
Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Niurka Alvarado; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Alfonso Maldonado; Pablo Caldevilla; Josué Briones-Bitar; Edgar Berrezueta. Geosites and Georesources to Foster Geotourism in Communities: Case Study of the Santa Elena Peninsula Geopark Project in Ecuador. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4484 .
AMA StyleGricelda Herrera-Franco, Paúl Carrión-Mero, Niurka Alvarado, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Alfonso Maldonado, Pablo Caldevilla, Josué Briones-Bitar, Edgar Berrezueta. Geosites and Georesources to Foster Geotourism in Communities: Case Study of the Santa Elena Peninsula Geopark Project in Ecuador. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (11):4484.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGricelda Herrera-Franco; Paúl Carrión-Mero; Niurka Alvarado; Fernando Morante-Carballo; Alfonso Maldonado; Pablo Caldevilla; Josué Briones-Bitar; Edgar Berrezueta. 2020. "Geosites and Georesources to Foster Geotourism in Communities: Case Study of the Santa Elena Peninsula Geopark Project in Ecuador." Sustainability 12, no. 11: 4484.
Zaruma is host to the ‘‘El Sexmo’’ tourist mine, the galleries of which extend below the city, and its exploitation dates back to precolonial times. The mining boom created important development in the area, but informal mining also emerged causing environmental issues and safety problems. This study presents a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the “El Sexmo” Tourist Mine in the context of its potential as a tourism geosite and mining site. The methodological stages included: (i) The process and systematization of the general mine information and its surroundings; (ii) the assessment of the geological and mining interest of the mine, through GAM and Brilha method; and (iii) description and proposal of action strategies through Delphi analysis and a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) matrix. Based on the results of the quantitative evaluation, the high values in the educational, scientific, and tourist aspects of the two applied methodologies, show the mine as a potential geosite and mining site with added cultural value. In addition, the quantitative assessment in correspondence with the qualitative analysis, allowed to propose improvement strategies to take advantage of the geological resources and mining identity of the area, as an alternative that strengthens the infrastructure of the mine and consolidates the geotouristic development of the area.
Paúl Carrión-Mero; Oscar Loor-Oporto; Héctor Andrade-Ríos; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Jaya-Montalvo; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Karen Torres-Peña; Edgar Berrezueta. Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of the “El Sexmo” Tourist Gold Mine (Zaruma, Ecuador) as A Geosite and Mining Site. Resources 2020, 9, 28 .
AMA StylePaúl Carrión-Mero, Oscar Loor-Oporto, Héctor Andrade-Ríos, Gricelda Herrera-Franco, Fernando Morante-Carballo, María Jaya-Montalvo, Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar, Karen Torres-Peña, Edgar Berrezueta. Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of the “El Sexmo” Tourist Gold Mine (Zaruma, Ecuador) as A Geosite and Mining Site. Resources. 2020; 9 (3):28.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaúl Carrión-Mero; Oscar Loor-Oporto; Héctor Andrade-Ríos; Gricelda Herrera-Franco; Fernando Morante-Carballo; María Jaya-Montalvo; Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar; Karen Torres-Peña; Edgar Berrezueta. 2020. "Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of the “El Sexmo” Tourist Gold Mine (Zaruma, Ecuador) as A Geosite and Mining Site." Resources 9, no. 3: 28.
Inefficient blasting techniques and poor closure management of the old quarry that existed during the 1970s in the area of the actual General Patrimonial Cemetery of Guayaquil resulted in an almost vertical slope of approximately 50 m in height and an intense induced fracturing that weakened the rock mass. This led to the loss of stability and increased material detachment, which damaged the infrastructure of the graveyard representing a risk to visitors and workers. The aim of this research is to evaluate the slope stability through a geotechnical analysis that allows decision-making to recover and preserve the safety of the area. In this work, we used structural measurements and observations made in the field, as well as a three-dimensional model of the slant generated by photographs taken by a drone. Slope Mass Rating (SMR) and Chinese Slope Mass Rating (CSMR) rankings were used to evaluate stability, susceptibility to rockfall was determined using a theoretical–practical procedure, and the safety factor was calculated using the Morgenstern–Price method. The analysis of the geomechanical classifications yielded a low stability value of the slope, which was in accordance with the high susceptibility to rockfall and with the low safety factor. Based on these results, we recommend the application of systematic bolt and shotcrete for stabilization.
Fernando Morante; Maribel Aguilar; Gonzalo Ramírez; Roberto Blanco; Paúl Carrión; Josué Briones; Edgar Berrezueta. Evaluation of Slope Stability Considering the Preservation of the General Patrimonial Cemetery of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Geosciences 2019, 9, 103 .
AMA StyleFernando Morante, Maribel Aguilar, Gonzalo Ramírez, Roberto Blanco, Paúl Carrión, Josué Briones, Edgar Berrezueta. Evaluation of Slope Stability Considering the Preservation of the General Patrimonial Cemetery of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Geosciences. 2019; 9 (3):103.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando Morante; Maribel Aguilar; Gonzalo Ramírez; Roberto Blanco; Paúl Carrión; Josué Briones; Edgar Berrezueta. 2019. "Evaluation of Slope Stability Considering the Preservation of the General Patrimonial Cemetery of Guayaquil, Ecuador." Geosciences 9, no. 3: 103.