Panagiotis A. Drakatos

Towards an understanding of the effect of road pollution on adjacent food crops: Zea mays as an example

This work is a preliminary study to test the hypothesis that major roads can have an adverse effect on the heavy metal composition of soil and food crops. Surface and subsurface soil samples were collected at increasing distances from the major road in the Araxos area and they were analysed for organic C, Al, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, P, Ca, Mg and Na by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. Levels of Ca, Al, Mg and Fe were significantly increased in the surface and subsurface soils in the vicinity of the roadside. This increase was due to dust released from lorries carrying building materials originating from limestone quarries existing in the area. The impact of traffic on adjacent soils was also evidenced by a sharp increase in Pb, Mn, Fe and Al concentrations in the leaves and roots of Zea mays L.

The reuse of wastewater and sludge for cultivation of forestry trees in desert areas in Greece

Processed wastewaters and sludges can be used in the irrigation of forest and desert areas for the cultivation of different plant species. Their use in the reforestation of desert areas is particularly interesting because it not only addresses the important modern problems of water shortage and desertification, but also reduces the pollution of aquatic ecosystems that are used as the final recipients of supposedly processed sewage from treatment plants. The analysis of all the parameters (chemical, environmental, geological) that are related to the by-products of the operation of such plants in both small and large municipalities of Greece will allow the disposal of wastes in the aquatic ecosystems to be reduced, and minimise pollution of the coastal and tourist urban regions of the country.

Growth Dynamics of Trees Irrigated with Wastewater: GMDH Modeling, Assessment, and Control Issues

Abstract This paper considers the issues regarding the design and analysis of growth dynamics models for forest tree species irrigated with processed wastewater. The Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) is applied to estimate and analyze features of the growth dynamics models. Linear models of tree species growth dynamics are obtained for different irrigation cases with the GMDH algorithm COMBI. It is shown how to build a general model with varying chemical content of irrigation water, on the basis of a pair of models describing irrigation cases with non‐varying water content. General models are also employed to assess optimal irrigation conditions of tree growth. The paper is based on the experimental results for Pinus Brutia tree obtained in the Laboratory of Special Mechanical Engineering of Patras University.

Antagonistic Action of Fe and Mn in Mediterranean-Type Plants Irrigated with Wastewater Effluents Following Biological Treatment

The present study examined the ability of certain Mediterranean plants to absorb Mn ++ when irrigated with wastewater effluents following treatment, the relative absorption of Fe ++ and Mn ++ , as well as the endurance of such plants to high Mn ++ concentrations in the water used for their irrigation. The experimental plants used in the study were Olea europaea , Nerium oleander and Geranium sp . These plants were irrigated with secondary treatment wastewater effluents, with water commonly used for irrigation in the area, and with water enriched with high concentrations of Mn ++ . The results showed that irrigation of the plants with wastewater treatment effluents resulted in slightly elevated concentrations of Mn ++ and Fe ++ in the leaves, the roots, and in the soil. On the contrary, irrigation with water enriched with high concentrations of Mn ++ (as high as 1000 mg/L) resulted in correspondingly high Mn ++ concentrations in the plants under study. The accumulation of Mn ++ was much higher in the roots than in the leaves of these plants. In the case of Mn ++ enriched water irrigation, the corresponding concentrations of Fe ++ in the roots, in the leaves, and in the soil indicated the existence of strong antagonism between these two elements. All plants exhibited tolerance to high concentrations of Mn ++ .

Usage of fuzzy modeling for cultivation of forests irigated by wastewater treatment plants

Cultivation of forests and plant species by utilizing processed wastewater and sludge from the wastewater treatment plants is an effective method to reduce the release of harmful substances and provide favorable conditions for the development of agricultural sector under the shortage of water resources. For this purpose, the experiments have been carrying out to investigate the ability of species to absorb chemical elements under increased concentrations in wastewater, as well as other characteristics and features of species’ behavior in biological, chemical and physical aspects. The behavior is a result of complex cause‐effect dynamical interactions in ecological networks with unknown mathematical models of underlying functional relationships. There are two important features inherent in the investigation of cultivating species by processed wastewater: empirical modeling of species’ behavior and qualitative reasoning with imprecise information about this behavior. Proceeding from analysis of chains of interactions viewed as functional mappings between factors and investigated objects, the paper proposes a solution to the development of fuzzy modeling tools to support the investigation process. The proposed architecture includes the following components: a model that describes an ecological network under investigation; artificial neural network modules that model complex direct cause‐effect interactions; a fuzzy inference system that provides the investigator with qualitative reasoning about these interactions within a framework of the model; and control system that, under the requests from the investigator, controls the operation of the above components.

A new method for the analysis of operating costs of construction equipment

Abstract This paper presents a new method for the analysis of operating costs of construction equipment. It specifically covers rear-dump trucks used for earth moving. The capacity and machine power are taken as parameters, and the operating costs are analysed by means of statistical methods. The model that gives the solution to the problem is a computerized one and it is expressed by a confidence ellipse which represents the operating cost of the machine.

Group method of data handling (GMDH) application for modelling of mechanical properties of trees irrigated with wastewater

Experiments have been carried out to identify the mechanical properties of trees irrigated with wastewater, as well as mathematical modelling of measurement results via the group method of data handling (GMDH) method. Eucalyptus trees were cultivated and irrigated with processed wastewater from a treatment plant. Characteristics of wood quality (axial compression and bending, etc.) were measured and compared with those obtained for trees irrigated in a common way. The paper analyses the features of the GMDH method to adaptively estimate non-linear relationships between input and output variables. Modelling results are described and presented as plots and formulae. Other requirements for modelling tools are discussed: flexibility to adapt to new experimental results, and explicit representation of estimated input-output relationships to provide data structuring.

Investigation of Corfu-Greece reclaimed municipal wastewater suitability for irrigation

Care in the reuse of processed liquid wastes from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) plays a major part in the protection of ecosystems which are used as final receptors of urban wastewater, and provides an environmental answer to the creation of green areas around the WWTP. Research of all the necessary parameters for the safe use of processed wastewaters in soil irrigation gives answers to the question of which plant species need to be grown and the protection of the environment.

Group method of data handling (GMDH) in modelling of growth dynamics of trees irrigated with wastewater

This paper describes the formulation and analysis of growth dynamics models for trees irrigated with wastewater. The models can be used to obtain the characteristics of a species, depending on treatment conditions and climate factors, at all stages of growth. The experiments were carried out at the University of Patras to identify the characteristics (height rate and mortality) of the forest tree Pinus brutia cultivated under different treatment conditions. The growth dynamics models are designed on the basis of the group method of data handling. This principle generates sets of estimation models with different complexity and accuracy. By analysing their structures, qualitative features of the models may be assessed, and general linear models for different treatment cases compiled.

A proposal for a modern and progressive environmental protection strategy based upon ancient Greek criteria relative to natural resources

The Ancient Greeks studied the hydrological and geological resources from numerous perspectives (mythological, philosophical, and scientific) while striving to maintain a searching, yet critical, attitude relative to these resources so basic for life in general and for development and progress. Above all else, nonetheless, it appears that they came to appreciate their interconnectedness stressing their value and their enormous collective significance in any attempt towards regional development, economic activity expansion, and ultimately the evolution of a significant civilization. The very fact that throughout human history, major civilizations flourished near rivers is indicative of the importance of water in promotion of all types of human activities (economic, productive, cultural). Proof of this is that the Ancient Athenian civilization rose and triumphed in the area between the deified rivers of Kifisos and Ilissos, which from time immemorial have irrigated the Attica plain. Today, in contemporary Greece, environmental strategy aims at the sustainable management and use of natural resources, soil and water included; toward the effective protection and husbandry of protected areas; and at the adoption of sound administrative approaches in the preservation of all natural and cultural monuments.