Scientific Content
Project proposal comprises a multidisciplinary fundamental research in the category of Interface Domains (Domain 6) regarding Modeling of the physical, chemical, biological and geological processes (Domain 6.1) as well as Environmental physics advanced research in frame of the Romanian National Program for Research Development and Innovation for period of 2007-2013, as well as of FP 7 Program of European Community, Theme 6: Environment (including Climatic Changes), being a complex research and development project which includes advanced fundamental interdisciplinary research (physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology). Essential aim of this project is directed to achieve excellent scientific results at the European level, reflected by the increase of scientific and international recognition of Romanian environmental research and international fundamental, frontier and explorative collaborative research.
The integration of Romania in European Union on January 1st 2007 gave the new opportunity to extend the scientific cooperation in environmental research with a wider regional dimension such as climate change and global warming effects on urban systems, biodiversity ,environmental pollution and its consequences such as ozone depletion, urban vegetation cover degradation . This is providing a framework for future research strategies involving scientists, research agencies and policy-makers on the necessary measures to be taken at the interface of the Kyoto Protocol and the Montreal Protocol for a better understanding and management of urban systems. Accurate information on the extent of climatic and anthropogenic stressors and of extreme climatic events impacts on urban ecosystems landuse/landcover is essential for estimation of changes in surface energy balance and atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions not only at local and regional scale but also at global scale. In Romania such researches are at the beginning and will be very helpful to investigate climatic changes and their feedbacks impacts on different urban ecosystems.
The project will investigate and monitor dynamic and functioning changes of urban ecosystem test case Bucharest. It includes research on the impacts of local, regional and global environmental changes on the functioning of urban ecosystem, developed at national and European levels. Multifunctional role of urban system is revealed by: short and long-term responses and reactions to a fast changing environment, having a negative influence on ecological and social services. Demonstrated global environmental changes have already taken place and will continue with a degree of uncertainty. Predicting how urban systems will be affected, determining how their management can help them to adapt to this evolving environment and how they can contribute to mitigate greenhouse effect.
The combination of remote sensing new sensors information technology in synergy with intensive and in-situ observations and modeling techniques is paving the way for optimization of the urban systems research and for the design of decision support systems. Changes in the atmospheric abundance of greenhouse gases and aerosols, in solar radiation and in land surface properties alter the energy balance of the climate system. These changes are expressed in terms of radiative forcing, which are used to compare how a range of human and natural factors drive warming or cooling influences on global climate. New observations and related modeling of greenhouse gases, solar activity, land surface properties and some aspects of aerosols have led to improvements in the quantitative estimates of radiative forcing and contribution of anthropogenic factors (IPCC, 2007, Keller et al, 2005). Sustainable development and smart urban growth of Bucharest town will depend upon improvements in our knowledge of the causes, chronology, and impacts of the process of urbanization and its driving forces (Mesev, 2003). Given the long research tradition in the fields of urban remote sensing and geography and urban modeling (Ben-Doret al. 2001), new sources of spatial data and innovative techniques offer the potential to significantly improve the analysis, understanding, representation and modeling of urban changes dynamics. The combination of new data and methods will be able to support far more informed decision-making for city planners, economists, ecologists and resource managers (Gamba et al., 2003). Spectral, climatic and dynamic spatial urban models provide an improved ability to assess future growth and to create planning scenarios, allowing us to explore the impacts of decisions that follow different urban planning and management policies (Warda et al. 2007). The advanced digital processing techniques (Gong et al.,1990; 1992; Karathanassi et al.,2000), applied to satellite data as well as to data provided by active remote sensing systems (Karathanassi et al., 2006) are necessary for the dimensions and amplitude of pollution and other anthropogenic and climatic effects on urban environment.
Environmental changes are reflected at microlevel through the physicochemical and electro-optical changes of spectral fingerprints of different environmental features (air, water, soil, vegetation) and consequently by spectral fingerprints changes in different wavelength bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, registered by different radiance levels by digital imagery in satellite remote sensing. For this reason, complementary with classical techniques, in many developed countries remote sensing (passive and active) is used, which offers 2D and 3D data in real time, for large areas of landcover/landuse. This technique has been widely used by several scientists over the world (in Germany (Nowak et al., 2000); in Italy: (Dell'Acqua et al., 2003; United Kingdom (Phinn et al.2002) etc, for estimation of spatial and temporal dynamics of the surface parameters in critical forested areas for both regional and global change point of view. The convergention between the satellite data and information needs is a crucial aspect.
As indicated by GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) (EU-ESA Working Paper June 2001), the guidelines needed in order to obtain the best information from remote sensing data for environmental purposes consider as the first step the identification of the forested areas that are most vulnerable to environmental stress and changes and the identification of time periods in which they occur.
The new methods and data have made computer-based models functional and useful tools for urban planning. This growth has been driven by two major factors: improved representation and modelling of urban dynamics; and increased richness of information in the form of multiple spatial data sets and tools for their processing (Clarke, Parks, & Crane, 2002). The application and performance of the models is still limited by the quality and scope of the data needed for their parameterization, calibration and validation. Remote sensing techniques have already shown their value in mapping urban areas, and as data sources for the analysis and modeling of urban growth and land use change. Remote sensing provides spatially consistent data sets that cover large areas with both high spatial detail and high temporal frequency. Dating back to 1960, remote sensing can also provide consistent historical time series data. Batty and Howes (2001) emphasized the importance of remote sensing as a ''unique view'' of the spatial and temporal dynamics of the processes of urban growth and land use change. Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the integration of remote sensing data with bio-geophysical in-situ monitoring and climatologically data into urban changes assessment.
The processing and analysis of the remote sensing imagery is focused on the derivation of the extent of built-up areas and urban growth. Image interpretation and classification required a clear definition of what is considered an urban area versus a rural area. In general, an urbanized area is characterized by builtup land including the central city and its immediate suburbs with a specified population possessing a specific socioeconomic relationship with the surroundings, which is very well delineating by using remote sensing techniques.
In frame of this proposal project, for the first time in Romania will be developed a predictive modeling system for Bucharest urban ecosystem, developed at different temporal scales (seasonal, decadal, on longer periods), spatial scales(regional and local), which will be used for integrated scenarios simulations of urban ecosystem changes due to anthropogenic and climatic factors including non-intervention as well as stabile scenarious.This project will provide a scientific base for quantitative assessment of impact and risk on landcover/use with changes presentation for extreme environmental events. These developed research methods are modular, flexible, simulative and integrated in order to provide proper tools in frame of the project ( short term or long term, dynamic or stationary sates, planned or operational environmental control, pornographic and meteorological conditions, different spectral, temporal and spatial resolutions for 2D and 3D analysis levels , multilayer dynamic models and a decision support level which consists in sequential globalization of previous models for risk decisions in real time .
The project addresses the identified and pressing problem of urban research in Europe based on remote sensing spatial information availability in synergy with in-situ bio-geophysical data for environmental changes monitoring and risk assessment , which will be used in decision-making processes. A priority problem will then be selected, and translated into information specifications and technical specifications for database and integrated urban system design. Training and capacity building are included at all degree (research) level.
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