Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals is an increasingly pressing ecological issue. One of the main sources of these pollutants is road transport. This study aimed to assess the impact of traffic intensity on heavy metal emissions using locally occurring vegetation as a natural indicator of environmental contamination. The research focused on a common and widely distributed plant species – dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – analyzing its capacity to accumulate pollutants. Plant samples were collected from four different locations with varying levels of traffic: near a highway, urban roads, and a forest area used as a reference site. The plants differed visually depending on the collection site, indicating the influence of pollution on their physical condition. Laboratory analyses revealed that plants from the area with the highest traffic intensity contained approximately four times higher concentrations of selected heavy metals – including Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn – compared to samples from the forest site. These results demonstrated the ability of dandelions to accumulate heavy metals in their biomass show that local vegetation can serve as a simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive tool for environmental monitoring, supporting the planning of pollution mitigation efforts and soil phytoremediation strategies in urbanized and traffic-exposed areas.
Poland’s transition to renewable energy sources (RES) and thus the electrification of the energy sector presents an issue with regards to grid capacity. This problem could be a potential cause of power outages in the future. Such infrastructure failures pose a threat to national energy security. One of the solutions to this problem is the accumulation of energy in a different form. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems accumulate energy in the form of heat. They can be connected to the power grid or RES as well as existing heating infrastructure. This way, they can provide much needed alleviation of the energy grid without incurring significant costs related to the building of new infrastructure. TES systems based on latent heat storage can accumulate a significant amount of energy in a small volume relative to other methods. This makes them a viable solution in urban areas. The viability of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl2·6H2O), which is a medium-temperature phase-change material (PCM), for such a solution, was analysed herein.
Urban mobility is a determining factor in urban life quality, which enables individuals to move and navigate within the urban fabric. Resulting in creating accessible areas for all users and improving urban life. This research explores the dynamics of mobility in the Yenikent district of Nicosia in Northern Cyprus, specifically focusing on the Belediye Boulevard pathways and sidewalks. Aiming to assess the current situation of the street and discover any challenges that the users might face. Using a combination of methods – surveys, observation, and spatial network analysis – with DepthmapX, this study reveals that there’s a wide range of sidewalk widths ranging from 9 meters to 1 meter, which significantly impacts how people move around and can create pronounced limitations. The research also identifies challenges such as uneven surfaces, obstacles, and limited green spaces. These challenges can pose difficulties for pedestrians, especially those with physical disabilities or blindness. Survey responses from 54 participants emphasize the importance of mobility while expressing concerns about seating areas and the availability of green spaces. By conducting connectivity analysis, both strengths and weaknesses in integrating parts of the boulevard are identified. To improve the environment, recommendations include a comprehensive redesign that addresses variations in sidewalk width, removes obstacles to accessibility, and incorporates more seating areas as well as green spaces. In order to ensure a sustainable redesign that meets user needs effectively.
The ongoing energy transition and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions emphasize the importance of integrating renewable energy sources within the building sector. This study investigates the impact of transparent photovoltaic glazing as a part of BIPV (Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics) façade system on the energy performance and thermal comfort of an office space located in building in Wroclaw, Poland. A simulation-based approach was applied using DesignBuilder software, which bases on the EnergyPlus simulation engine. 18 façade configurations were developed, varying in glazing type (conventional triple glazing and transparent CdTe PV glazing), three façade orientations (east, south, west) and three window-to-wall ratios (30%, 50%, 70%). The analysis covered annual heating, cooling and lighting energy demand, electrical energy generation, and basic thermal comfort assessment. The results showed the potential of BIPV glazing as both an envelope and energy-generating component, supporting the implementation of nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) concept. The analyzed data offer valuable insights into the application of BIPV technologies under moderate European climate.
Revitalization activities of historical buildings, especially those with several hundred years of history require solving many problems of conservational nature especially issues related to preserving the authenticity of the existing tissue, ways of reconstructing lost elements but most of all connecting historical architecture with contemporary elements. Moreover, changing the function of a building with a great historic significance (even partially), is often a difficult task that requires thorough recognition and understanding of the history. The adaptation of the Archcathedral Basilic in Frombork attic for museum and exhibition purposes provides excellent material for future ventures in medieval structures. In the article, spatial and technical solutions, design assumptions, and the process of the preparation and realization of the investment were examined. The objective of this study is to present a methodology for the revitalization of architecturally and historically valuable buildings, one that aligns with international conservation standards, respects the integrity of the historical substance while ensuring adherence to current functional and safety regulations.
The complex history of the lands comprising today's Upper Silesian Agglomeration has left a wealth of diverse memorabilia and monuments, including those related not only to Poles, but also to people of other origins, such as Jews. Jewish cemeteries and the tombstones in them are a historical testimony to this community. These cemeteries remain a priceless book of memory, commemorating the history of the Jewish community in the Upper Silesian Agglomeration. An article focuses on the state of preservation of 17 Jewish cemeteries in the cities of the Upper Silesian Agglomeration. The conclusion contains information on the efforts made to preserve these cemeteries and to document information about these burial sites.
This study explores key spatial features that support a dignified death, drawing on the perspectives of healthcare professionals involved in the delivery of palliative care. It argues that integrating care providers insights into the design process of hospice environments ensures alignment with the core philosophy of palliative care, thereby promoting the well-being of patients, their families, and caregivers. A quantitative survey was conducted using a questionnaire developed specifically for this study, targeting employees and volunteers of hospices in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. The findings indicate that healthcare workers view inpatient hospices as the most appropriate settings for delivering end-of-life care. Respondents expressed a clear preference for interior designs that create a domestic, non-clinical environment, emphasized the critical importance of privacy, and suggested that single – or double-occupancy rooms are most conducive to patient comfort. In addition, the emotional and spiritual needs of patients were identified as central aspects that should be addressed through both care practices and spatial solutions. These results highlight the significant role of interior architecture in shaping environments that uphold dignity and provide a foundation for developing evidence-based design guideline for palliative care settings.
The Polish Jurassic Highland is a region of exceptional cultural and natural value, characterized by medieval defensive structures known as the “Eagle Nests”. These sites face increasing degradation due to environmental and human factors, while existing studies often lack systematic documentation methods. This study introduces CastleHIM, a semantic Heritage Building Information Modeling (H-BIM) framework developed to support sustainable management and conservation of castle ruins. The framework integrates the CIDOC CRM ontology with H-BIM and is based on data collected through field surveys and archival research. The acquired data was structured into a multi-layered representation model that includes architectural geometry, material information, historical documentation, and conservation records. CastleHIM contributes to sustainable development by supporting long-term cultural heritage preservation, promoting digital access to endangered sites, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The article presents a model developed on a dataset 31 castle sites from the Polish Jurassic Highland and outlines the process of model development and data integration. In practical terms, CastleHIM results in a standards-based, interoperable data structure that improves long-term accessibility, re-use and cross-platform sharing of heritage information for research and conservation practice.
Tools that support the introduction of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are a subject of work around the world. The tools can be defined as developed, widely accessible resources that enable the effective implementation of NbS in cities at every stage of the implementation process, to prevent the negative impacts of climate change (e.g., databases, platforms, policy instruments). Various research initiatives have produced tool inventories that have become obsolete over the years, and some tools have become unavailable. For the Silesian researchers working in the process of creating urban planning recommendations for the GZM Metropolis in Poland (the GZM – Górnoŝląsko-Zaglębiowska Metropolis), it was important to discern which tools would support the introduction of NbS into the urban space in their metropolis. This study aimed to analyse tools from available inventories: the typologies and functions of the tools presented in them, whether these aids can be applied in the cities of the GZM, and whether the inventories contain up-to-date sources. The study covered nine inventories and over 600 tools. As a result, the preliminary set of tools was created, along with a proposal for a decision-making scheme that can be implemented in any tool inventory of this kind. This research is intended to support the selection of the most suitable aids by researchers, designers, and urban decision-makers who work in the GZM, while also identifying best practices and areas for improvement in the implementation of NbS.
This article is about artistic creation in a spatial context – arts in architecture. It addresses the revitalization of space, the humanisation of a place through the introduction of art (in this case murals) that changes the perception of a place. The aim of the article is to explore how murals influence the perception of architectural space and contribute to the revitalisation of urban environments. Through case studies and field research, the author demonstrates the social, aesthetic, and spatial value of murals in transforming and humanising cityscapes.To this end, selected examples of murals located in urban residential areas were analysed to demonstrate their spatial, social, and aesthetic impact on the revitalisation of the environment.
During dynamic replacement, the contractor has no direct control over the length of the column and its diameter. Therefore, field trial tests performed at the beginning of the work site are extremely important. An alternative may be numerical analyses that permit modelling of column driving with variable technological parameters. The approach of combining meshed methods (FEM) and meshless methods (SPH) using the ANSYS LS-Dyna program with model calibration based on their own laboratory tests was used. A two-dimensional (2D) model was proposed in an axisymmetric state of deformation for calculations. The top layer was divided into two parts: in place of the examined largest displacements, the substrate is modelled by SPH elements and in the remaining part by FEM elements. The load-bearing layer and the pounder were modelled with FEM elements, while the backfill material was modelled with SPH elements. The analysis modelled the drop of pounder, its extraction, insertion of the backfill, and then the drop of free pounder into the crater. For the modelling an elastic-perfectly plastic model with the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion (for soils) and rigid model (for pounder) were used. The parameters of the adopted models were selected on the basis of laboratory tests and the literature. Modelling of dynamic replacement using an elastic-perfectly plastic model with the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion allowed for a good reflection of the initial stage of column driving associated mainly with soil failure and greater discrepancies with laboratory results for some of the remaining stages related to soil compaction.
The article focuses on chemical compounds from the phenol group, which can persist in the natural environment and exert harmful effects on living organisms. Phenolic compounds have been listed as priority pollutants by both the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the European Union (EU) due to their toxicity and significant effects on organisms. For example, some alkylphenols (APs), because of their chemical structure, are classified as xenoestrogens. Owing to their similarity to natural estrogens, they can interfere with the endocrine system, particularly by disrupting the metabolism of endogenous estrogens and impairing immune system function. Additionally, nonylphenol is considered a xenoestrogen compound that exerts toxic effects on many organisms by interfering with hormonal function. Against the background of the initially described physicochemical properties and environmental impact (including impact on living organisms) of phenol and phenolic compounds, this publication discusses methods for biodegrading these pollutants using bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and enzymes. Bioaugmentation techniques and hybrid treatment methods are also considered.
Waste utilization is a desirable practice resulting from the constantly expanding closed-loop economy, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by minimizing waste generation and reducing raw materials usage. One of the types of waste materials that can be used for geotechnical engineering purposes is basalt dust, a by-product of the crushing process of basalt rocks. Due to its gradation and chemical composition, basalt dust is commonly used in construction engineering, horticulture, and agriculture. Moreover, it can be applied as a mineral soil additive. The study aimed to investigate the potential use of basalt dust as a partial replacement for non-cohesive soil. The paper presents the results of compactibility, permeability, compressibility, and shear strength tests. Investigations were performed under laboratory conditions on samples with the addition of 5, 10, and 15% basalt dust to the dry mass of soil. The results enabled the identification of the effect of basalt dust on geotechnical parameters, including coefficient of permeability, compaction parameters, constrained modulus, compression and recompression indexes, and internal friction angle.
Construction work using heavy machinery (e.g. bulldozers, graders and excavators) will in the future require real-time digital terrain model (DTM) updating. The original contribution of this paper is the innovative method and the algorithm to implement this requirement. A portable measurement platform has been built as a fusion of GNSS (global navigation satellite system), IMU (inertial measurement unit) and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors. The algorithm for operating the platform was developed in the Python programming language. Analyses of the capabilities and limitations of both the platform and the algorithm were performed. A field test was conducted at a gravel pit where the surface of the excavated material was modified in the course of the experiment to verify the performance of the system. It is concluded that the prepared measurement platform and the original algorithm are highly efficient in performing the real-time update of DTM model from LiDAR data.
The article includes a detailed analysis of a selected lighthouses located on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea, focusing on issues related to cultural heritage and value protection. The study includes an analysis of the history, architecture and contemporary functions of lighthouses using the example of the facilities located on Cape Rozewie. The article focuses on the tangible values of lighthouses, which are architectural monuments, preserved items and elements of technical heritage, as well as on the intangible aspects, including the service of lighthouse keepers, the traditions associated with it, and the symbolism of the objects. In addition, the key role of lighthouses in the development of regional tourism is highlighted, and the problem of transformation of objects into consumer products is presented. An additional purpose of the article is to assess the level of awareness of respondents about the complex value of the cultural heritage of lighthouses and the changes in the meaning of objects occurring today.
The paper focusses on a numerical study of the structural behaviour of timber-glass composite beams made of glass panes and timber flanges bonded with adhesives of different stiffness. The first part of the paper presents a brief summary of four-point bending tests of two types of timber-glass composite beams varying in length, glass thickness, timber material used for flanges, and type of adhesive used to make a bond line connection. The second part of the paper describes the finite element models developed to simulate the flexural behaviour of timber-glass composite beams. Finite element models were developed to simulate the elastic (linear) and post-failure flexural behaviour of timber-glass composite beams. Two types of analysis, implicit and explicit, were used to simulate the degradation behaviour of glass. The objectives of the numerical analyses were to investigate the influence of various parameters such as glass strength, finite element formulation, finite element mesh size, and variation of adhesive stiffness on the response of timber-glass composite beams. Finally, experimental and numerical results are compared and discussed in terms of the initial bending stiffness, load at first cracking in glass, ultimate load and crack pattern together with global progressive failure.
This article investigates the influence of the Kabbalah on Jewish architecture and synagogal art. Due to the destruction of the Eastern European kabbalist-related architecture and the preservation of only two indisputably “kabbalist” synagogues, the Abuhav and the Ashkenazi Ari Synagogue in Safed, Israel, secondary research that includes literature, religious texts, and historical photographic documentation analysis was undertaken. This allowed the identification of the elements of architecture, paintings, and sculptures that could be inspired by the Kabbalah or potentially created according to its rules and recommendations. However, it is impossible to unambiguously indicate the Kabbalah as the primary source of inspiration neither for architectural forms nor artistic representation in the interiors of synagogues. Because of the metaphysical orientation of its believers and the difficulties following the representation of abstract ideas by formal solutions, the outcome of the research proved, in most cases, the lack of any direct kabbalistic influences on architecture.
The aim of the paper is to present factors affecting the biocementation process using the Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) method in soils. The MICP process is the one where microorganisms are used to precipitate calcium carbonate to improve soil parameters through the bridges formed between soil particles. The most common bacterial strain, with the ability to hydrolyse urease, and in the presence of calcium ions, promotes the precipitation of calcium carbonate, is Sporosarcina pasteurii. The paper focuses on the factors dependent on the soil, treatment method, and the bacteria density determined on the basis of OD600. Research on factors influencing MICP in soil is essential for establishing optimal conditions required for the occurrence and effectiveness of biocementation.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones, are becoming increasingly widely used in engineering works. Their use is supported by the speed of measurement while maintaining appropriate accuracy. At the same time, a huge advantage is the remote mapping of large areas – without the need to compromise safety in areas at risk, often inaccessible. UAV measurements are used to inventory both engineering facilities and the area itself, including those affected by mining operations. The obtained results provide a basis for verifying their condition, and ultimately constitute a source of data necessary to determine repair actions. The article presents the possibilities of verifying the condition of the road using low-altitude photogrammetry using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The observations allowed checking the current geometry of the object subject to mining impacts against the design assumptions.
While historical buildings play an important role in transferring the socio-cultural values of the period to future generations, fires cause the destruction of cultural sustainability.Aim The aim of the study is to determine the risks encountered in historical buildings and to determine the measures that can be taken.Method The checlist method prepared in accordance with the fire regulations in Turkey and the risk analysis method defined in NFPA 101 A were used together. In this study, fire risk analysis was evaluated on a sample historical theater building in Turkey.Results When the risk-reducing factors are evaluated according to NFPA101A and BYKHY; the locations and characteristics of the floor and vertical shafts in the BYKHY are ignored and not associated with fire risks. In the NFPA101A fire safety assessment system, only the access roads to the building are excluded from the risk analysis.Conclusion In order to reduce the risks in fire safety, the originality of the building should be left in the second place and the sources of ignition and flammable coatings should be located far away and the change of function to the spaces that pose a risk should be limited.
