Urban areas need to rethink their policies to strengthen their capacities to prepare for and respond to hazards and become more resilient, intelligent and inclusive. In this context, one of the objectives is to ensure the resilience of their services and systems against multi-hazard scenarios, where the effect of local hazards combines with global challenges such as climate change and pandemics. Moreover, the concept of inclusiveness is becoming crucial, as highlighted during COVID, which showed that the most vulnerable population is the one living in sparsely and densely populated areas, where the level of social and physical services is often inadequate [1].

In this context, one possible response to this need is the development of monitoring and surveillance approaches [2]. The present contribution will focus on three aspects

The first is that resilience must be addressed as a whole, since services and networks are interconnected and interdependent (e.g. health system, transport, energy and water distribution, air quality, protection from extreme weather events, etc.). The main consequence of these interconnections is that the complete collapse of services (blackout) may become a realistic possibility.

The second aspect is that resilience can only be achieved in the presence of continuous and detailed monitoring of both the structures/infrastructure/services and the territory on which they insist, and that without such a monitoring it is impossible to correctly define the interventions to be carried out and their priorization.

The third aspect concerns the development of new monitoring systems based on Earth observation, positioning, navigation, and ICT technologies that exploit the citizen as a sensor and the so-called ‘non-sensors’, i.e. sensors that provide useful information for monitoring even if they are not designed for this purpose. All this ‘sensory’ data must be integrated to obtain a complete and reliable awareness of the scenario; hence the need to process and systematize large amounts of information that can only be processed by AI and HPC.

[1] V. Cuomo F. Soldovieri F. Bourquin, N. -E. El Faouzi, J. Dumoulin. The necessities and the perspectives of the monitoring/surveillance systems for multi-risk scenarios of urban areas including COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the TIEMS Annual Conference, 18-20 November 2020, Paris, France, ISBN: 978-94-90297-19-0, vol. 27

[2] Cuomo V., Soldovieri F., Ponzo F.C., Ditommaso R. (2018). A holistic approach to long-term SHM of transport infrastructures. The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS) Newsletter 33, pp. 67-84.

How to cite: Soldovieri, F., Cuomo, V., and Dumoulin, J.: Monitoring for  sustainable and inclusive urban areas, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9193, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9193, 2025.

Among Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and magnetic surveys are among the most widely used techniques for various applications, including geo-environmental, archaeological, geotechnical, and engineering purposes. Their success is attributed to factors such as cost-efficiency, versatility, and data collection capabilities. Additionally, both methods enable the detection of buried targets through their respective magnetic and electromagnetic properties. Integrating the results from these two methodologies can yield excellent outcomes for an in-depth analysis of the investigated environment and significantly enhance the detection capabilities for anomaly sources.

This study presents preliminary results on the integration of simulated GPR and magnetometric data for a representative scenario. Advanced imaging techniques, including the Depth from Extreme Points (DEXP) method for magnetic data and the microwave tomography approach for GPR data, were applied to produce an initial high-resolution visualization of the simulated target.

Building on these results, an arithmetic integration approach was used to merge the two datasets into a single image, enhancing the interpretation of the anomaly source, including its morphology, position, and depth.

These preliminary results demonstrate the potential of this workflow, based on the arithmetic integration of these datasets, to provide more accurate and detailed subsurface models. This approach paves the way for real-world applications, and further developments aim to refine it for broader geophysical purposes.

Acknowledgments: the project ITINERIS "Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructure Systems" (IR0000032), which funded the research

How to cite: Mercogliano, F., Barone, A., Vitale, A., Esposito, G., Tizzani, P., and Catapano, I.: Towards the Integration of GPR and Magnetic Data for the Study of Urban and Rural Areas, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20136, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20136, 2025.

Coastal regions are crucial for human settlements and economic development. However, their distinctive environmental characteristics, particularly in deltas, bays, and gulfs, render them highly vulnerable to threats such as erosion phenomena and pollution. The effective management of these areas depends on the accurate predictions of wave dynamics and their interactions with the shoreline and seabed. Reliable forecasts require numerical wave propagation models to be initialized with precise data and detailed bathymetric representations, and their accuracy depends on calibration operations using high-quality sea state observations.

Sea state data are typically collected through in-situ sensors, such as buoys and drifters, or remote sensing devices, including radars and video-monitoring systems [1]. Remote sensing technologies are often preferred due to their ability to provide both spatial and temporal information. Among these, ground-based radar systems like High-Frequency and X-band radars have proven effective in retrieving wave spectra and coastal sea state information. However, these systems face notable limitations, including difficulties in acquiring data near the shoreline. Additionally, they are bulky, heavy, and cumbersome, which complicates the deployment stage.

To address these challenges, the Italian PRIN-PNRR 2022 Project SEAWATCH—Short-Range K-Band Wave Radar System Close to the Coast—was launched on November 30, 2023. SEAWATCH focuses on developing an innovative, portable, short-range K-band radar prototype specifically designed for sea state monitoring in nearshore zones. Thanks to its compact size, lightweight design, and low power requirements, the system enables flexible, on-demand surveys, meeting critical safety and environmental management needs in harbors and coastal zones.

This communication outlines the key activities and initial results achieved during the first year of the SEAWATCH project. This last is organized into six milestones, supported by a robust collaboration between research units to ensure efficient knowledge sharing and steady progress. Preliminary here results shown highlight the radar prototype potential to overcome traditional limitations, offering enhanced spatial resolution and real-time monitoring capabilities near the coastline [2]-[4].

Future efforts will focus on further refining the radar prototype and validating its performance across diverse coastal environments.

References:

• P. Neill, M. Reza Hashemi, Chapter 7 - In Situ and Remote Methods for Resource Characterization, Editor(s): Simon P. Neill, M. Reza Hashemi, In E-Business Solutions, Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy, Academic Press, 2018, Pages 157-191.
• Afolabi, L. A., et al. (2025). Underestimation of Wave Energy from ERA5 Datasets: Back Analysis and Calibration in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea. Energies, 18(1), 3.
• Ludeno, G., Antuono, M., Soldovieri, F., & Gennarelli, G. (2024). A Feasibility Study of Nearshore Bathymetry Estimation via Short-Range K-Band MIMO Radar. Remote Sensing, 16 (2), 261.
• Ludeno, G.; Esposito, G.; Lugni, C.; Soldovieri, F.; Gennarelli, G. A Deep Learning Strategy for the Retrieval of Sea Wave Spectra from Marine Radar Data.  Mar. Sci. Eng.2024, 12, 1609.

Acknowledgment: This work was supported and funded by the European Union—NextGenerationEU PNRR Missione 4 “Istruzione e Ricerca”—Componente C2 Investimento 1.1, “Fondo per il Programma Nazionale di Ricerca e PRIN—SEAWATCH—Short-rangE K-bAnd Wave rAdar sysTem Close to tHe coast CUP B53D23023940001, and partially funded by the research project STRIVE—La scienza per le transizioni industriali, verde, energetica CUP B53C22010110001.

How to cite: Ludeno, G., Contestabile, P., Vicinanza, D., Antuono, M., Lugni, C., Catapano, I., Esposito, G., Noviello, C., Soldovieri, F., and Gennarelli, G.: SEAWATCH Project: A year of advancements in Short-Range K-Band Radar for Coastal Monitoring, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18196, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18196, 2025.

 In recent years, there was a notable technological advancement in geophysical sensors. In the case of magnetometry, several sensors were used having the common feature to be miniaturized and lightweight, thus idoneous to be carried by UAV in drone-borne magnetometric surveys. Moreover, such sensors have the common feature to be very cheap, so that it is in principle very easy to have the resources to combine two or three of them to form gradiometers. Nonetheless, another common feature is that their sensitivity ranges from 0.1 to about 200 nT, thus not comparable to that of alkali vapor, standard flux-gate or even proton magnetometers. However, their low-cost, small volume and weight remain as very interesting features of these sensors. In this communication, we want to explore the range of applications of small tri-axial magnetometers commonly used for attitude determination in several devices. We compare the results of ground-based surveys performed with conventional geophysical instruments with those obtained using these sensors.

How to cite: Accomando, F. and Florio, G.: Applicability of cheap and lightweight magnetic sensors to geophysical exploration, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18356, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18356, 2025.

  Presently, three fundamental methods are employed for sea cucumber aquaculture: pond culture, dam culture, and submarine seedling culture. However, these methods are susceptible to environmental water quality degradation due to factors such as sea cucumber feces, excessive feed, and climate change, which can impede sea cucumber growth and affect yields.

In order to address the issues outlined above, this study presents the intelligent circulating water system (ICWS), which is composed of a composite low-energy physical liquid-solid separator and a multi-mixed biofilter. A detailed description of these components is provided below.

• Composite Low Energy Physical Liquid-Solid Separator

The liquid-solid separator uses minimal energy because of its innovative composite type. It extracts the contaminant source from the aquatic environment, reducing biofilter bed load and energy demand.

• Multi-mixed Biofilter

The configuration of hybrid arrangement structures increases the specific surface area of the biofilter, leading to a reduction in its volume. The structure controls flow rate, hydraulic residence time, and hydraulic loading, which can be used to regulate temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia levels. This ensures the provision of high-quality water that meets the needs of sea cucumbers.

The innovative low-energy-consuming water recycling system outlined in this project has the theoretical potential to achieve complete water recycling without the necessity of replenishing the source water. This scenario presents a mutually beneficial opportunity for the sustainable utilization of Earth's water resources and the realm of commercial aquaculture, exhibiting no inherent incompatibility.

How to cite: Chien, K.-H., Huang, W.-S., Chen , J.-C.  .  ., and Ren , X.  .: Development of an intelligent recirculating water system for land-based sea cucumber aquaculture, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2316, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2316, 2025.

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is one of the most commonly used instruments for measuring river discharge by utilizing the Doppler effect of acoustic waves. However, its reliance on a single transducer introduces certain limitations. During the transition between transmission and reception of the acoustic signal, the returning signal cannot be captured, resulting in an inability to measure discharge near the sensor.

Additionally, side-lobe interference generated by acoustic waves reflects off the riverbed and contaminates measurements near the bottom. To mitigate this, discharge data within 5% of the water depth from the bottom are typically excluded from results. Furthermore, in shallow areas where the unmeasured regions near the sensor and near the bottom overlap, discharge cannot be accurately measured.

To address these gaps, discharge in the unmeasured regions of ADCP measurements is typically extrapolated using data from the measured sections or calculated using empirical equations. In this study, a method to improve the measurement accuracy in the unmeasured regions of the ADCP was developed and evaluated.

Acknowledgements 

This work was supported by Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute(KEITI) through Research and development on the technology for securing the water resouces stability in response to future change Program, funded by Korea Ministry of Environment(MOE)(RS-2024-00336020)

How to cite: Kim, J. and Kim, D.: Improving Discharge Measurement in Unmeasured Zones of ADCPs, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4974, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4974, 2025.

The König-Project, funded by the German state, is a long-term project focused primarily on developing a multi-scale wave measurement laboratory to improve flow measurements in an industrial context. Part of this project researches the propagation of ultrasound waves inside a moving fluid. A wide variety of flow scenarios are considered, and new methods for ultrasonic flow measurement can be developed and optimized. One experimental scenario includes the determination of volume fraction and drop size distributions of air dispersed in water using ultrasonic waves.

For this purpose, a modular system is used as an initiative to integrate manufacturer-independent measurement components with open-source software for the acquisition and processing of ultrasound signals. The modular system equipment consists of a multichannel system, which allows the positioning of several transceivers to send and receive ultrasonic waves from different directions along the experimental zone of interest. The concentration of dispersed air in water will be determined by measuring the reduced transit time caused by the added compressibility of the air phase.

Characterizing multiphase flows using other techniques can be time-consuming and the accuracy can fall short as the complexity of the fluid grows. The use of ultrasound to characterize fluid flows has many advantages such: as a non-invasive method that doesn’t alter the fluid path, real-time data acquisition, and high-temporal resolution, it is cost-effective and can be used on opaque fluids. Therefore this technique is gaining more attention in several industrial applications, including oil and gas, hydrogen, and geothermal energy generation. The results of this investigation will be validated and compared with the output of a numerical simulation, in which the boundary conditions and the flow characteristics will be similar to the experimental setup.

How to cite: Calderon, J., Dormann, M., Branß, T., Balcewicz, M., Aberle, J., and Saenger, E.: Advanced Ultrasound Techniques for Investigating Air-Water Two-Phase Flow: An Experimental Approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10725, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10725, 2025.

The König-project is funded by the German state with the aim to develop a calibrated and virtual measurement laboratory to enhance methods based on ultrasound measurements that find application in the determination of flow velocity or particle movement. By comparing the results of controlled laboratory and real-world experiments with numerical simulations, the understanding of the interaction between ultrasonic waves and fluid flow is intended to be improved. The amount of scatterers within a fractured medium directly affects  the effective velocity of elastic waves. Thus we investigate, if the effects found in solid media can be transferred to fluids. We ran a series of numerical experiments, simulating ultrasound transmission measurements for multiple concentrations of bubbles of varying diameter dissolved in a stationary water layer. For the simulation of elastic wave propagation, we used a rotated staggered finite-difference scheme. We investigate the relation between the effective wave speed and the bubble concentration and compare those to results of laboratory experiments. Future research will then expand to moving fluid-gas mixtures.

How to cite: Dormann, M., Calderon, J., Finger, C., Balcewicz, M., and Saenger, E. H.: Numerical Study to Determine Water-Air Dispersion with Ultrasound Waves, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10832, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10832, 2025.

Salar de Uyuni is a salt desert in Bolivia, spanning approximately 10,000 km². During the wet season a thin layer of rainfall water covers the salt flats, making its surface mirror-like and earning it the title of “the largest natural mirror in the world”. The surface reflects the sky like a mirror, and attracts tourists who document this effect only from its outer perimeter. No evidence is documented in the interior, accessible only during the dry season. The only frequent observations of the Salar surface are from satellites, particularly altimetric radars, which are specifically designed to measure topography. Originally developed to measure sea level [1], they have recently been used, with a different metrics, to describe how emitted radar pulses are reflected by the surface, measuring the intensity of the reflected echo, and thus the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of the surface [2]: higher RCSs correspond to smoother surfaces. RCS was initially estimated in [1] with a an approximate method. Later EUMETSAT shared a better estimate by solving the radar equation with satellite parameters that were previously unknown to us [3]. In this study we used Sentinel-3A and 3B RCS measurements over the Salar flats, along six ground tracks, to describe for the first time the evolution of the Salar surface smoothness in space and time. A field campaign (16^th - 20^th of February 2024) was also conducted to validate the interpretation of radar measurements during the Sentinel-3A overpass on the track 167. At the field site, in a water depth of 1.8 cm (horizontal wind 4.5-3.4 ms^-1), we measured a null vertical surface displacement to within ±0.5 mm, which classifies the surface as electromagnetically smooth at the radar frequency. The RCS values near the site were around 120 dBsm, as expected for radar return from a smooth surface. Three peaks are observed on the statistical distribution of the RCS: 87 (dry), 101 (intermediate) and 120 dBsm (wet season).The wet season, characterized by values above 101 dBsm, begins in December, peaking from late January to early March. February thus ensures the highest chance to observe mirror-like effects. Rainfall climatology from Uyuni city meteorological station reflects such statistics. The spatial and temporal evolution of RCS over the Salar, however, do not describe this place like a uniform mirror at the radar frequency, and so it is unlikely to observe such effect at shorter wavelengths, contrary to what is believed in the literature. Finally, satellites can help tourism stakeholders in programming the most enjoyable experience for travellers.

[1] Vignudelli et all. 10.1007/s10712-019-09569-1

[2] Abileah and Vignudelli, 10.1016/J.Rse.2021.112580

[3] Dinardo and Lucas, EUM/RSP/TEN/23/1376566

How to cite: De Biasio, F., Vignudelli, S., Abileah, R., and Pacheco Mollinedo, P.: Radar Altimetry Reveals the Smoothness of the Surface: the Case of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10867, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10867, 2025.

Technological advancements in forest digitization have revolutionized real-time monitoring of tree ecophysiological processes. Direct measurement sensors, such as dendrometers, sap flow sensors, and spectrometers, enable high-resolution insights into tree function and growth. Here, we present a novel dendrometer designed to monitor radial stem increment using a Hall effect-based linear magnetic encoder system integrated into an IoT-enabled platform.

The dendrometer employs a commercially available linear magnetic encoder chip (AMS OSRAM GmbH) that operates without physical contact, ensuring low power consumption and long-term monitoring suitability. Key design components include a linear arm, sensor housing, rail, magnetic tape, and chip braces. Calibration was conducted using a stepper motor for linear movements at 0.1 mm increments, capturing 100 data points per step in four replicates. Regression analysis demonstrated high accuracy, with an R² of 0.99 and an RMSE of 0.05 mm. Temperature sensitivity tests (0–40°C) revealed minimal impact on sensor performance.

Field tests over one growing season involved four dendrometers installed on specimens of spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst)) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). Seasonal radial growth patterns captured by the devices aligned closely with established static UMS D1 diameter belt measurements, demonstrating their capacity to detect both long-term trends and short-term diel stem oscillations.

This study highlights the potential of an IoT-driven dendrometer for capturing high-resolution radial growth data, offering insights into tree physiology and forest responses to environmental changes. Future development should focus on enhancing measurement precision through design optimization and improved access to power width modulation components in the AS3511 chip. This dendrometer represents a promising tool for advancing forest monitoring and understanding the impacts of climate change on tree growth dynamics.

How to cite: Belelli Marchesini, L., Yates, J., Renzi, F., and Valentini, R.: Building a Smart Dendrometer: Calibration and Field Deployment of a linear magnetic driven IoT Sensor for Real-Time Radial Growth Assessment, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20810, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20810, 2025.

Wetland ecosystems exhibit large spatial and temporal variability in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, necessitating new technologies to ensure that they are well-monitored. Both manual and automated chamber-based approaches are currently costly and thus limited either in spatial or temporal resolution. Following on from Wang et al. (2022), we propose a new, inexpensive autochamber (TraceCatch) for long-term outdoor installation. Costs for one unit are less than 800€ in total, making it affordable and scalable for long-term ecological research, also in lower income countries such as the global south. The system is based on gathering gas samples over two weeks into four gas bags on a high-frequency sampling schedule. TraceCatch is controlled using an Arduino Uno, connected to a peristaltic pump for sampling of chamber headspace air as well as a number of sensors for air temperature and humidity (SHT-41), air pressure (BMP280), and CO2 concentrations (K30FR; 0–5,000 ppm, 30 ppm resolution). The latter are used to track the sealing condition of the chamber. We validated the system using defined injection amounts of technical gas (100% CO2). In addition, the system was applied to measure GHG fluxes from three wetland cores placed inside three ecotrons (UGT EcoLab flex, manufactured by Umwelt-Geräte-Technik GmbH, Germany). Gas samples were collected 4 times a day for 2 weeks during a 1 hour chamber closure time at t0, t20, t40, t60 and subsequently analyzed using gas chromatography (Nexis GC-2030, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation, Japan). Average GHG fluxes determined over the two-week period were then compared to single measurements obtained using multi-gas sensors (LI-COR LI-7820 and LI-7810 analyzers, manufactured by LI-COR Biosciences, USA). If adopted, the system’s low cost, scale and robustness for permanent field deployments could help improve wetland GHG monitoring, offering a cost-efficient and practical alternative to traditional methods for global-scale biogeochemical cycle assessments.

How to cite: Kretzschmar, M. S., Dubbert, M., Hoffmann, M., Bielcik, M., Bergmann, J., and Dubbert, D.: A Cost-Effective Automatic Chamber for Permanent CH4 and N2O Assessments inWetland Environments, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20884, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20884, 2025.