Conference Agenda

Climate change is expected to intensify rainfall variability and extreme weather events, directly affecting dam inflows that are critical for reservoir operation. In multipurpose reservoir systems, reliable inflow projections are essential for managing hydropower generation, irrigation supply, and flood control. This study models historical and future dam inflows in the San Roque Dam watershed in Northern Philippines using a calibrated Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWAT+) model. Monthly inflows were simulated for a historical period (1991–2015) and a future period (2041–2059) using rainfall projections from five climate models under the RCP 4.5 scenario. Model calibration achieved satisfactory performance (NSE = 0.616; PBIAS = 4.71), supporting its suitability for inflow projections. Results show strong seasonal and interannual variability in historical inflows, while future projections indicate a wider range of extreme low and high inflow conditions. Dry-season inflows are expected to become more erratic, while wet-season inflows may intensify, increasing the likelihood of peak discharge events. Although dependable flows are generally projected to increase, these gains are largely driven by occasional high-flow events rather than sustained baseflow improvements. The findings highlight increasing inflow uncertainty under climate change and underscore the need for adaptive, inflow-based reservoir operation strategies in monsoon-driven watersheds.

The growing of urban infrastructure has intensified the challenges associated with stormwater management. On impervious surfaces, pollutants accumulate during dry periods and are subsequently washed off during rainfall events, leading to the deterioration of receiving water bodies quality. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) have emerged as an effective strategy to mitigate the impacts related to both the quantity and quality of urban runoff. However, there remains limited information regarding the actual pollutant removal efficiencies that these systems can achieve under controlled conditions. This study assessed the behavior of urban pollutants in various types of SUDS. From laboratory-scale simulations of polluted rainfall events samples were collected and analyzed from green roofs, infiltration trenches, and vegetated filter strips. Physicochemical analyses indicated that SUDS can achieve high removal efficiencies—ranging from 50% to 100%—for total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, and lead (Pb). With respect to chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), vegetated filter strips exhibited removal rates exceeding 50%; in contrast, green roofs and infiltration trenches acted as ources pollutant. Additionally, an increase in runoff pH was observed across all SUDS evaluated. These results are essential for improving urban water management and guiding more effective and sustainable city planning.

The research analyze the permeability of eight agricultural nets, evaluating the influence of precipitation intensity and installation conditions through a multifactorial analysis. The study involved three anti-rain (AR) and five anti-insect (AI) nets. Laboratory tests were conducted varying the net slope (10°, 20°, 30°), the installation direction relative to the slope (parallel and perpendicular), and the rainfall intensity. For each configuration, tests were repeated three times, totaling 144 tests. The permeability data were subjected to ANOVA analyses to determine the statistical significance of the investigated factors and their interactions. The net type exerts the greatest influence on rainfall permeability (p < 0.001): AI nets showing higher average values (85.5%) compared to AR nets (67.7%). Net slope was also statistically significant (p-value < 0.001): maximum permeability was at a 10° slope (86.2%), decreasing as the slope increased (75.0% at 20° and 75.2% at 30°). Rainfall intensity showed a significant positive correlation (p-value < 0.01): its increase leads to higher permeability. In contrast, the installation direction did not show statistically significant differences (p-value = 0.077). In conclusion, the study demonstrates that permeability is primarily governed by the net intrinsic characteristics and its slope, providing fundamental insights for optimizing crop protection systems.

Composting is widely recognised as a sustainable strategy for the valorisation of agro-industrial residues. Recent research has emphasised the importance of assessing the environmental sustainability of waste management and valorisation options in relation to the specific regional context. This study investigated the potential reduction in environmental impacts (EI) associated with fertilisation when replacing mineral fertilisers with Mediterranean by-products compost (i.e. olive pomace, exhausted wine grape pomace and citrus post-processing waste). The analysis focused on the use of compost on cropland and compares two alternative scenarios through life cycle impact assessment approach: (i) production and application of conventional fertilisers; and (ii) composting of by-products and subsequent application of compost as soil amendment. Beyond the farm scale, the assessment was extended to regional level in Sicily (Italy), to quantify the potential benefits of adopting composting-based valorisation strategies across a wider territory. The results, illustrated in thematic maps, show that the compost-based scenario can achieve a reduction in EI of approximately 90% compared to the conventional fertilisation scenario. The proposed approach provides a methodological framework to support decision-making on sustainable waste valorisation strategies at the territorial scale and highlights the role of composting in reducing EI while promoting circularity in agricultural systems.

The coastal habitats constitute environments of high ecological value, since they form a constantly-changing boundary between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. However, they are increasingly threatened by coastal erosion, climate change, and growing anthropogenic pressure, mostly due to tourism. This study aims to assess the conservation status of some selected habitats in coastal dunes, through high-resolution monitoring based on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Drone surveys were conducted along a coast shore on the Ionian Sea (Puglia region – Southern Italy) at low altitude, acquiring high-resolution RGB images and multispectral data. The collected datasets were processed using photogrammetric techniques, to generate ortho-mosaics and surface models, then analyzed in a GIS environment. Spatial indicators related to habitat conservation were extracted and quantified, including vegetation cover, habitat fragmentation, coastline dynamics, and visible degradation patterns. The results highlighted strong spatial variability in habitat conditions, with well-preserved areas alternating to areas affected by degradation processes, often associated with proximity to infrastructure and intensive human activities. The UAV-based approach proved so to be an effective and flexible tool for detailed, repeatable assessments of coastal habitats, offering high spatial accuracy at low operational costs, and providing reliable information to support coastal management, environmental planning, and biodiversity conservation strategies.