Scientific Research, New Technologies and Applications Vol. 1

Smartphones, although not empowered as water quality sensing devices, can be used to obtain spectral information about our water quality through their enhanced capability to capture images and process using applications (APPs) developed to work within given colour spaces. As the focus of this study, models were developed through two colour spaces used by existing smartphone APPs; RGB colour space by HydroColor and XYZ colour space by Citclops (now called EyeOnWater). For each colour space, a single band semi-analytical model and a logarithmic model were developed and evaluated to estimate turbidity and the concentration of suspended particulate materials (SPM) using smartphone images and validated with laboratory measurements. Although the two-colour spaces used in this research are different, they can be converted from one colour space to another. The models developed from the RGB colour space was suitable for a wider range of water bodies compared to the original models used by HydroColor APP. The XYZ colour space on conversion were also used to estimate turbidity and SPM compared to its original Citclops APP that estimated colour. Comparatively, the logarithmic models did well in the estimation of turbidity and SPM through the RGB and XYZ colour space with R² ranging from 0.63 to 0.90 and RMSE from 5.86 to 20.18, to the semi-analytical model with R² from 0.45 to 0.78 and RMSE from 0.83 to 27.25. In the broader context of water quality monitoring, these findings underscore the viability of smartphones in democratizing environmental data collection. The user-friendly XYZ colour space, requiring only water surface images, positions smartphone APPs as powerful tools for citizen engagement in water quality monitoring initiatives. This research contributes to advancing accessible and efficient methods for environmental monitoring, fostering a more citizen participatory approach towards safeguarding water resources, and addressing a novel approach to real-time water quality monitoring and mapping using widely accessible technology-smartphones.

Fish is one of the few animal sources of food mostly consumed worldwide. However, the transportation of fish releases harmful greenhouse gases, posing a serious threat of global warming effects. Transportation is usually done by motor taxis (tuk tuk), motorcycles (boda boda), and motor vehicle vans (matatu/probox) that support numerous fishmongers from the Lake to various destinations and cumulatively result in carbon emissions. The sustainable transport system for fish that is efficient and emits minimal greenhouse gases as compared to others is not known. Life Cycle Assessment framework was used to quantify the carbon footprints of fish from landing beaches, through transportation to consumption. The general objective of the study was to determine the life cycle of fish carbon footprints for small-scale traders with a specific objective to analyze the carbon footprint of fish per weight-kilometer moved using different motorized modes of transport. The research adopted was a descriptive design that involved a sample frame of 98 motors (14-seater van (matatu), probox van, and motorcycles). Stratified random sampling was employed. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and direct observation. Results showed that matatu emits an average of 0.66 L per kg-km; Probox emits 1.10 L per kg-km; motorcycles emit 2.17 L per kg-km when transporting fish. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed there was a statistically significant difference in the carbon footprints of the motorized modes of transport (F (2,77) =22.477, p<0.0005, \(\alpha\)=0.05). Results indicate that different modes of transport emit and contribute to fish carbon footprints. The study concluded that there is a need for sustainable and efficient transportation practices and policies that aim at mitigating the effect of CO₂ on climate change. The study recommended that the dominance of lower fish-carrying capacity modes be discouraged and initiate high fish-carrying capacity modes.

One of the biggest issues facing the oil industry is the steel corrosion phenomenon, which affects underground transmission pipelines that are used to transport high gas pressure across long distances. Steel is shielded from external soil corrosion by a bituminous coating with an active cathodic protection system in order to keep the steel in its protective field and minimize the corrosion risk. However, steel protection can fail, bare steel may interact mechanically or electrochemically with an aggressive soil solution, resulting in external surface defects such as corrosion pitting and cracking on steel. These are concerning phenomena and are the major threats to the pipeline transmission system’s reliability and ecological safety. Corrosion mechanisms vary and can be studied using a variety of approaches, including electrochemical measures, which are influenced by temperature, pH, soil properties, resistivity, water content, and mechanical forces. Corrosion studies from simulated artificial soil solutions demonstrated that steel is susceptible to soil corrosion. Non-destructive ultrasonic techniques such as C-Scan Emission testing and the time of flight diffraction technique (TOFD) ultrasonic non-contact testing method were used to detect surface defects. After propagation of the ultrasonic waves, the diffracted ultrasonic reflected wave occurring at the edges of the defects appears due to the presence of a corrosion defect by generating defect echoes. The C-Scan ultrasonic image shows surface reflection, including corrosion defects on interfaces with varying acoustic impedances. The cross-transverse speed ultrasonic propagation through the plate, including defects, is modified, revealing more surface defects. Cross-transverse speed is shown to increase ultrasonic detection presents some advantages, such as precision and speed of detection without alteration to the structure. The application of the ultrasonic method as an intelligent industrial robotics method in an industrial setting is possible provided that the data processing and acquisition instruments are highly detectable, autonomous, and automatic. The maintenance method can be used to schedule routine in-line inspections to find and size, position, and identify defects as a preventive measure.

This study explains the heat resistance tolerance of non-combustible materials and their structural components toward the fire. Fire statistical data was collected, tabulated, and analyzed through graphs. The graph lines indicate the increasing number of fire accidents every year. These increasing numbers should be viewed as a serious problem in the society. Two buildings were taken for the case study which were subjected to heavy fire and experienced a large number of human lives loss. During the case study, many design factors and fire safety factors were applied and studied. It was found that the firing of combustible materials fell upon the people and a large number of lives were lost in both buildings. Solutions are given by the application of non-combustible materials constructions and structural systems in buildings. This application will minimize the number of fire accidents and it will safeguard human lives and protect the property. Therefore, the noncombustible materials and their structural systems properties, their thermal behavior, integrative resistance capability towards the fire and its products, and temperature time simulation study details are given. After the study of the material, this insight concluded with the mandatory application of non-combustible materials construction in buildings with codal application in design. So that, the buildings will counteract with fire and the fire and life safety objectives will be achieved automatically. Based on the fire and life safety research findings, the codal recommendations, and peer group discussions, few recommendations have been given. The recommendations are compartmentation floor planning, construction specification, structural specifications, and door window construction materials recommendations.

Aims: The research describes the methods of conducting field studies to evaluate the effectiveness of sprinkler irrigation systems and to design them reliably. Also, the distribution of discharge in the irrigation system across the territory and its losses are analyzed.

Study Design: Christiansen's coefficient of similarity, denoted as "CU," is used to estimate the distribution of water from sprinklers.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of “Hydraulics and Hydro Informatics”, “Irrigation and Melioration” at “Tashkent Institute of the Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” National Research University, between June 2021 and July 2022.

Methodology: Christiansen's coefficient of similarity "CU" is carried out by studying three combinations according to the Catch Can method: sprinkler height, sprinkler discharge, and pressure changes. In order to determine the Christiansen coefficient, it is calculated using the sum of experiments in taking into account the distribution of discharge according to the height of the sprinkler at several different pressures. Based on the method given above, the optimal height was determined in the assessment of water distribution. Based on field experiments and their analysis, a graph was created based on sprinkler height and flow distribution for discharge.

Results: The optimal height of the sprinkler was chosen from three types including 0.5 m, 0.75 m, and 1 m. Among them, 0.75 m is chosen as the optimal height of the sprinkler. As a result, the correlation coefficient is the best one according to the pressure head (10 m, 12 m, 14 m, 16 m, 18 m, 20 m) and sprinkler height (0.5 m, 0.75 m, 1 m) and water distribution (between 11 m and 16 m).

Conclusion: From the results, we can calculate the water distribution of the sprinkler system of 0.75 m height of the sprinkler under different pressure heads. It is also good for designing and doing hydraulic calculations of this system.

The goal of this project is to create and implement a complete hardware model for ongoing health monitoring. Through the use of specialized sensors, the system monitors critical health factors like blood pressure, temperature, sweat, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and patient falls. Medical practitioners and the patient's family can access the information through the wireless transmission of data points to a central database using Internet of Things technology. The research entailed designing a user-friendly data access interface, establishing the wireless transmission protocol, and choosing and integrating the proper sensors. With real-time vital sign monitoring available from anywhere, the system is specially designed with senior patients in mind. It also has an emergency alert mechanism that will swiftly contact the appropriate authorities. This research facilitates effective patient monitoring and aids healthcare professionals in overseeing several patients.

Water quality monitoring and mapping is crucial for protecting ecosystems and human health, and it has become increasingly significant as societies worldwide prioritize environmental awareness and sustainable practices. This study focuses on advancing water quality monitoring by evaluating the performance of two smartphone applications (APPs) (HydroColor and Citclops, now EyeOnWater), in estimating key parameters such as turbidity, the concentration of suspended particulate matter ([SPM]), and color. Methodologies included field testing and comparing the water quality parameters estimated from smartphone images with those obtained using laboratory and hyperspectral sensors to assess their reliability and accuracy. As a measure of transparency to assess the water types that were used for the studies, colour saturation and dominant wavelength were determined to range from 0.08 to 0.73 and 497 to 582 respectively. The findings of the APPs revealed varying degrees of accuracy, with HydroColor achieving R² value of 0.36 and RMSE of 4.13 for turbidity and R² value of 0.83 and RMSE of 3.44 for SPM. Also, the Citclops attained an R² value of 0.7 and RMSE of 1.32 for color estimation. Additionally, the study highlighted limitations in both APPs, particularly regarding their applicability across different water systems. These insights emphasize the need for proper calibration and validation procedures for smartphone-based water quality monitoring APPs. In conclusion, the study underscores the growing significance of these APPs in enabling accessible, real-time water quality monitoring and their potential to revolutionize environmental monitoring practices through citizen science. By leveraging the potential of smartphone technology, we can achieve more comprehensive and sustainable management of water resources, ultimately benefiting both ecosystems and human communities. Ultimately, this research contributes to advancing smartphone-based monitoring initiatives, informing decision-making in environmental management, and enhancing our understanding of water quality dynamics in diverse environments.

Asbestos is a Greek-origin word that means inextinguishable and unerasable. It is a naturally occurring mineral valued for its high chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and insulating properties. Consequently, it has been widely used in various types of construction materials. Old buildings typically refer to those constructed during the second half of the 20th century. In Europe, America, and many other parts of the world, numerous buildings erected between the 1960s and 1980s contain asbestos, which can be found in both structural and facility components.

However, the beneficial properties of asbestos are now overshadowed by its health risks. Scientific research has revealed that asbestos is a hazardous substance capable of causing numerous irreversible and often fatal respiratory diseases, as well as some fatal non-respiratory illnesses. These diseases can manifest many years after initial exposure to asbestos. As a result, asbestos has been the cause of a significant number of serious occupational diseases and deaths. Consequently, many countries have banned its use. Despite this prohibition, the challenge of managing asbestos that was previously used in buildings remains.

This section outlines the procedures to follow when rehabilitating a building that may contain asbestos or when demolishing such structures. The first challenge is diagnosing the presence of asbestos, as it is invisible and odorless, making detection difficult. Once confirmed, the next challenge is asbestos removal, which must be carried out following strict protocols to minimize health risks. This study noted that an element that contains asbestos if it is consistent and it is in a good conservation state, is not dangerous. The dangerous element is the one that can release asbestos fibers into the air; these fibers can be breathed in by workers and cause serious illnesses caused by asbestos. In many countries, there are registries of companies with asbestos risk. These records are an instrument to find out which companies handle asbestos in each country. Companies involved in activities or operations using asbestos or materials containing it are required to register in these databases.