Underground space development resulting from increased urban migration

Worldwide urbanization has resulted in the creation of so called “megacities” with populations of 10 million or more. It is estimated that 68% of the world’s population will reside in urban centers by the year 2050 up from 55% in 2018 [1]. This pace of urbanization is staggering, especially in China where urban populations have more than doubled over the last 30 years, while urban land extent has more than tripled [2]. Today, urban planners and engineers are faced with challenging decisions regarding land management planning. To manage this population increase, there is a need to cultivate urban underground space to reduce congestion on the surface, control urban sprawl, and provide opportunities to re-purpose land for recreational space. This discussion paper provides a review of several recommended practices for urban underground space development addressing planning, intended function, and environmental sustainability/resiliency.

Methods and sources of obtaining data for knowledge bases of technical, technological, organizational measures on water and land management planning in reclaimed areas

The article analyzes the methods and sources of obtaining data for knowledge bases of technical, technological, organizational measures on water and land management planning in reclaimed areas. The main sources of data obtaining were determined as following: data in XML, CSV and JSON formats from the sites of relevant institutions, remote sensing data, scientific developments and research results, reporting records of water management organizations, etc. The main obstacles that may occur when obtaining the necessary information were identified. The structural and functional scheme of providing the user with a single database access point is presented. For this purposes a node for data collection, storage and processing (sub domain http://ewater.iwpim.com.ua and a server available in IWP&LR) with the functions of remote data collection, their pre-processing, structuring, combining, short- and long-term storage is offered. The structure of the database for processing complex information by subject areas (lists, hierarchies, relationships, structuring libraries, principles of classification) for presentation in the form of "essence-relationship-characteristics" is proposed. As part of a single Internet portal, it is planned to present the following information and reference systems: "Integrated land and water management"; "Land consolidation"; "Private-public partnership". To ensure the specified functionality of the Internet portal, its work will be based on comprehensive information and analytical environment that is a multilevel system, the basis of which is a database of metadata linked to information sources, services and direct access to them. The analysis of the requirements to the software necessary for accumulation of database information and the further performance of the portal was carried out.

Contemporary Aboriginal savanna burning projects in Arnhem Land: a regional description and analysis of the fire management aspirations of Traditional Owners

The growth of the carbon industry in Australia over the last decade has seen an increase in the number of eligible offsets projects utilising the savanna burning methods in northern Australia. Many of these projects are operated by Aboriginal people on Aboriginal lands utilising local Aboriginal knowledge and customary burning practice. The present paper reviews existing land management planning documents to describe the aspirations of Traditional Owners in relation to fire management at a regional scale in Arnhem Land. Available data collected in the course of savanna burning operations are then utilised to examine the extent to which the savanna burning projects are meeting these goals. There were six clear goals in relation to fire management within the planning documents across Arnhem Land. Traditional Owners want to: (1) continue the healthy fire management of their country; (2) see fewer wildfires; (3) protect biodiversity; (4) protect culturally important sites; (5) maintain and transfer knowledge; and (6) create a carbon abatement. The results from this paper suggest that although the savanna burning projects are annually variable, these goals are being met. Importantly, the present paper clearly communicates a description of contemporary fire management from the perspective of Traditional Owners at a broad regional scale.