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.
