Search Results (61)

Urban flooding caused by short and high-intensity rainfall events presents increasing challenges for cities, threatening infrastructure, public safety and economic activity. Accurately representing infiltration processes in hydrodynamic models is critical, as oversimplifying infiltration can lead to significant errors in predicted flood extents and water depths. This study systematically compares two widely used infiltration models—Green-Ampt and Curve Number—implemented within two leading 2D hydraulic models, HEC-RAS and IBER, to assess their influence on urban flood predictions. Simulations were conducted for 26 rainfall events, including both observed and synthetic hyetographs, across two urban neighbourhoods in Pamplona metropolitan area, Spain. Model performance was evaluated using root mean square error, mean absolute error and confusion matrix-derived metrics such as precision, accuracy, specificity, sensitivity and negative predictive value. Results indicate that the choice of infiltration method significantly affects both water depths and inundation extents: while Green-Ampt yields more conservative water depth estimates, Curve Number tends to underestimate flood extents. The comparison between the two hydraulic models has shown that IBER simulates broader flood extents and lower water depth errors compared to HEC-RAS. The findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate infiltration methods and hydraulic models for reliable urban flood risk assessment, as well as providing guidance for model selection in urban inundation studies. Full article

This research evaluates the vulnerability of public infrastructure in San Luis parish, Riobamba canton, Ecuador, to the flood risk posed by the Chibunga River under return period scenarios of 10, 50, 100, and 500 years. The main objective was to identify the most exposed systems—such as drinking water, sewerage, power grid, and utility poles—in order to prioritize mitigation measures. The methodology combined hydrometeorological analysis, hydraulic modeling using HEC-HMS and Iber, and the estimation of economic losses through the DaLA methodology. The results reveal that the low vulnerability of the drinking water system, as less than 0.08% of the network’s length, is at risk in the high-to-very-high range, even in a scenario with a 500-year return period. On the other hand, there is evidence of high exposure of the sewerage network in extreme scenarios, considering that 49.15% is at high-to-very-high risk in the worst-case scenario. Furthermore, as the return period increases, there is a growing impact on the electrical network, where the proportion of assets at high-to-very-high risk increases from 0.60% to 6.88% for high voltage, 0.00% to 18.03% for low voltage, and 0.00% to 1.18% for streetlights for a return period of 10 to 500 years. It should be noted that the estimated direct economic losses amount to USD 84,162.86 when taking into account the worst-case scenario. In this regard, the novelty of this study lies in the integration of technical, hydraulic, and economic analyses for a scarcely studied rural Andean area, providing crucial data for preventive risk management. It concludes that investment in prevention is more cost-effective than post-disaster reconstruction, recommending the strengthening of the sewerage system’s hydraulic capacity and the optimization of electrical infrastructure protection. Full article

Urban pluvial flooding (UPF) is an increasingly critical issue due to rapid urbanization and intensified precipitation driven by climate change that yet remains understudied in the Caribbean. This study analyzes the effects of UPF resulting from the transformation of a natural karstic landscape into an urbanized area considering a sub-watershed in Chetumal, Southern Mexican Caribbean, as a case study. Hydrographic numerical modeling was conducted using the IBER 2.5.1 software and the SCS-CN method to estimate surface runoff for a critical UPF event across three stages: (i) 1928—natural condition; (ii) 1998—semi-urbanized (78% coverage); and (iii) 2015—urbanized (88% coverage). Urbanization led to the orthogonalization of the drainage network, an increase in the sub-watershed area (20%) and mainstream length (33%), flow velocities rising 10–100 times, a 52% reduction in surface roughness, and a 32% decrease in the potential maximum soil retention before runoff occurs. In urbanized scenarios, 53.5% of flooded areas exceeded 0.5 m in depth, compared to 16.8% in non-urbanized conditions. Community-based knowledge supported flood extent estimates with 44.5% of respondents reporting floodwater levels exceeding 0.50 m, primarily in streets. Only 43.1% recalled past flood levels, indicating a loss of societal memory, although risk perception remained high among directly affected residents. The reported UPF effects perceived in the area mainly related to housing damage (30.2%), mobility disruption (25.5%), or health issues (12.9%). Although UPF events are frequent, insufficient drainage infrastructure, altered runoff patterns, and limited access to public shelters and communication increased vulnerability. Full article

This paper shows the results of a study on the ecological structure and spatial distribution of communities of the protected steppe ground beetle Carabus hungaricus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), in Bulgaria. It also points some phenological data and details about the species activity. In the period May 2021–December 2023, we explored 42 sample plots in xerophytic landscapes in central–western Bulgaria, representing the southernmost limits of the steppe fauna in Eurasia. With 252 pitfall traps, 69,903 effective trap-days were realised, and 15,333 carabid individuals from 184 species were identified. Carabus hungaricus was established in seven sites (frequency of occurrence, F = 16.7%), with a total of 198 specimens (1.3% of all carabids and almost 4% of the total dynamic density). In these seven sites, we found 57 species, mostly open habitat dwellers. The tribe Harpalini had 33% of the species. The most species-rich genera were Harpalus (13 species), Amara (8) and Carabus (6). Calathus distinguendus was superdominant with more than 71% of all carabid specimens. Euconstant species, collected in all seven sites (F = 100%), were Carabus coriaceus and Calathus distinguendus. The two classes of life forms had almost equal proportions, 28 (49.1%) Zoophagous and 29 (50.9%) Mixophytophagous species, which is extraordinary for Bulgaria, but typical for the Eurasian steppe zone. Macropterous beetles comprised 56% of the species and brachypterous were 25%, which is comparable only with typical montane habitats. Concerning humidity preferences, mesoxerophilous carabids predominated (25 species, 44%). In relation to its ground beetle fauna, the studied complex of habitats is quite remarkable for Bulgaria and appears to be stable and characteristic for the steppe biome. Full article

Carabus hungaricus Fabricius, 1792, is a protected Natura 2000 species included in Berne Convention and CORINE. In Bulgaria, it is listed in the Biological Diversity Act and Bulgarian Red Data Book. It is included in the standard form of only one protected area (BG0000322 “Dragoman”) with an ‘unfavourable’ status. This study shows a part of the results from the development of an Action Plan for the protection of Carabus hungaricus in Bulgaria. Data were obtained between 24 May 2021 and 10 December 2023 with the help of 252 pitfall traps from 42 plots. Carabus hungaricus was established in only seven of the sampling sites, with a total of 198 specimens. In those sites, we found 56 other carabid species belonging to 18 zoogeographical categories. The European–Asiatic steppe complex prevailed (30%). The European–Neareastern (17.5%), Palaearctic and European–Central Asian (10.5% each) zoogeographical elements were the most represented. The known range of the species in Bulgaria is limited to the karst steppes of the small mountains around the Sofia Basin. We add four new localities to the distributional map of C. hungaricus and update its altitudinal limit, elevating it to 1200 m. The species is highly vulnerable, strongly attached to the steppe biome and is stenotopic in relation to environmental conditions, thus requiring full conservation of its habitats. Full article

Urbanization increases the number of impervious surfaces in watersheds, reducing infiltration and evapotranspiration, which increases runoff volumes and the risks of flooding and the pollution of water resources. Nature-based solutions (NBS) mitigate these effects by managing water volume and quality, restoring the hydrological cycle, and creating sustainable livelihoods that can promote socioeconomic equity by providing green space. In light of the aforementioned information, this study analyzes the hydrological response of NBS in La Guapil, a densely populated and socioeconomically vulnerable area of Costa Rica with approximately 80% impervious surfaces, focusing on their effectiveness in stormwater management and improving hydrological conditions. Field data from the study area’s storm drainage system, as well as hydrological analyses, were collected and processed to evaluate RCP8.5 climate change scenarios using the Clausius–Clapeyron (CC) relationship. Three scenarios were proposed: (1) the “status quo”, reflecting current conditions, (2) green roofs and green improvements, and (3) detention ponds and green improvements, evaluated using the SWMM, with the latter scenario also using the Iber model. Simulations showed that Scenario 2 achieved the greatest reduction in peak flow (53.74%) and runoff volume (57.60%) compared to Scenario 3 (peak: 28.37%; volume: 56.42%). Both scenarios demonstrate resilience to climate change projections. The results of this study provide a foundation for further research into NBS in Costa Rica and other comparable regions. Full article

Floods are the climate hazard that has the greatest socio-economic and territorial impact on the world. The root causes of these events are atmospheric and hydrological phenomena. However, human action usually aggravates their effects, as it alters the normal functioning of the river courses and water flows. The installation of road, rail and hydraulic infrastructures in a floodplain with no prior calculation or appropriate adaptation exacerbates the negative consequences of floods, increasing the extension of the flooded area and the height of the flood waters. This study addresses the problem of the barrier effect generated, on the one hand, by the layout of the N-332 road, as it is built at the same level as the ground, hindering the flow of overflowing water during episodes of flooding, and on the other hand, the channelling wall of the Segura River in the final stretch of its mouth, in the towns of San Fulgencio and Guardamar del Segura. These elements have aggravated flooding in this area. In order to analyse the consequences of the flood, IBER (v.3.3) software has been used to model a flood with similar effects to that of the episode of September 2019. The current situation has also been analysed with two openings in order to determine the effects that a future flood would have. After analysing the results, a proposal to correct the barrier effect of the N-332 road and the new channelling wall of the River Segura has been elaborated upon and then modelled. The results are positive and effective in reducing the negative effects of floods in the lower basin of the River Segura. Full article

Soil erosion and sediment transport are significant concerns in the Yaqui River sub-basin in northwest Mexico, driven by land use changes and environmental degradation. This study aims to evaluate erosion processes between 2000 and 2020 using a combination of satellite imagery and numerical simulations with Iber software (Version 2.5.2). The primary objective is to assess the impacts of land use changes, particularly the conversion of forest to grassland, on erosion rates and sediment transport. Satellite images from 2000 and 2020 were analyzed to detect land cover changes, while Iber’s sediment transport module was used to simulate erosion patterns based on the Meyer–Peter and Müller equation for bedload transport. Hydrological and topographical data were incorporated to provide accurate simulations of flow velocity, depth, and erosion potential. The results reveal a 35.3% reduction in forest cover, leading to increased erosion and sediment transport in steep areas. Simulation predictions highlighted areas with high future erosion potential, which are at risk of further soil loss if current trends continue. Flow velocity increased, contributing to riverbank destabilization and higher sediment yield, posing a risk to infrastructure such as the Álvaro Obregón Dam. This study underscores the need for targeted erosion control measures and sustainable land management practices to mitigate future risks and protect vital infrastructure in the Yaqui River Basin. Full article

Extreme rainfall events in Andean basins frequently trigger landslides, obstructing river channels and causing flash flows, loss of lives, and economic damage. This study focused on improving the modeling of these events to enhance risk management, specifically in the La Liboriana basin in Salgar (Colombia). A cascading modeling methodology was developed, integrating the spatially distributed rainfall intensities, hazard zoning with the SLIDE model, propagation modeling with RAMMS using calibrated soil rheological parameters, the distributed hydrological model TETIS, and flood mapping with IBER. Return periods of 2.33, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years were defined and applied throughout the methodology. A specific extreme event (18 May 2015) was modeled for calibration and comparison. The spatial rainfall intensities indicated maximum concentrations in the northwestern upper basin and southeastern lower basin. Six landslide hazard maps were generated, predicting landslide-prone areas with a slightly above random prediction rate for the 2015 event. The RAMMS debris flow modeling involved 30 simulations, indicating significant deposition within the river channel and modifying the terrain. Hydraulic modeling with the IBER model revealed water heights ranging from 0.23 to 7 m and velocities from 0.34 m/s to 6.98 m/s, with urban areas showing higher values, indicating increased erosion and infrastructure damage potential. Full article

Mine tailings are commonly stored in off-stream reservoirs and are usually composed of water with high concentrations of fine particles (microns). The rupture of a mine-tailings pond promotes, depending on the characteristics of the stored material, the fluidization and release of hyper-concentrated flows that typically behave as non–Newtonian fluids. The simulation of non–Newtonian fluid dynamics using numerical modelling tools is based on the solution of mass and momentum conservation equations, particularizing the shear stress terms by means of a rheological model that accounts for the properties of the fluid. This document presents the extension of Iber, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic numerical tool, for the simulation of non–Newtonian shallow flows, especially those related to mine tailings. The performance of the numerical tool was tested throughout benchmarks and real study cases. The results agreed with the analytical and theoretical solutions in the benchmark tests; additionally, the numerical tool also revealed itself to be adequate for simulating the dynamic and static phases under real conditions. The outputs of this numerical tool provide valuable information, allowing researchers to assess flood hazard and risk in mine-tailings spill propagation scenarios. Full article

ThisSpecial Issue presents the latest advances in research and novel applications of speech and language technologies based on the works presented at the sixth edition of the IberSPEECH conference held in Granada in 2022, paying special attention to those focused on Iberian languages. IberSPEECH is the international conference of the Special Interest Group on Iberian Languages (SIG-IL) of the International Speech Communication Association (ISCA) and the Spanish Thematic Network on Speech Technologies (Red Temática en Tecnologías del Habla, or RTTH for short). Several researchers were invited to extend the contributions presented at IberSPEECH2022 due to their interest and quality. As a result, the Special Issue is composed of 11 papers that cover different research topics related to speech perception, speech analysis and enhancement, speaker verification and identification, speech production and synthesis, natural language processing, together with several applications and evaluation challenges. Full article

Floods in Villahermosa are events that have occurred frequently over the centuries, due to the city’s location at the mouth of two of the most powerful rivers in Mexico. Flooding effects on residents have become increasingly damaging over the years as a consequence of the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena, in addition to poor land-use planning policies. The increase in population and consequent urban expansion are certainly causes of the problem, which are reflected in poor urban planning policy and in an almost absent perception of risk. In this work, we present a methodology for the construction of flood risk maps based on a hydraulic study, analysis of social vulnerability indexes, calculation of severity indexes and construction of hazard maps. The results of the hydraulic simulations show that relatively frequent rainfall causes floods of the order of 2 m, in agreement with annual observations conducted in Villahermosa. More extreme rainfall can lead to flooding greater than 4 m in marginalized areas of the city. The areas at greatest risk are sections close to the rivers that cross the city, and the estimated economic damage is greater than USD 14 million. Risk maps presented here constitute the first effort of an integrated study to couple flood analysis with the calculation of economic damage in the city of Villahermosa, and provide important tools to conscientize populations in their perception of risk, but also create the basis for a conscious urbanization policy. Full article

Arnica montana L. (Asteraceae) has a long and successful tradition in Europe as herbal medicine. Arnica flowers (i.e., the flowerheads of Arnica montana) are monographed in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), and a European Union herbal monograph exists, in which its use as traditional herbal medicine is recommended. According to this monograph, Arnica flowers (Arnicae flos Ph. Eur.) and preparations thereof may be used topically to treat blunt injuries and traumas, inflammations and rheumatic muscle and joint complaints. The main bioactive constituents are sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) of the helenanolide type. Among these, a variety of esters of helenalin and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin with low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, namely, acetic, isobutyric, methacrylic, methylbutyric as well as tiglic acid, represent the main constituents, in addition to small amounts of the unesterified parent STLs. A plethora of reports exist on the pharmacological activities of these STLs, and it appears unquestioned that they represent the main active principles responsible for the herbal drug’s efficacy. It has been known for a long time, however, that considerable differences in the STL pattern occur between A. montana flowers from plants growing in middle or Eastern Europe with some originating from the Iberic peninsula. In the former, Helenalin esters usually predominate, whereas the latter contains almost exclusively 11α,13-Dihydrohelenalin derivatives. Differences in pharmacological potency, on the other hand, have been reported for the two subtypes of Arnica-STLs in various instances. At the same time, it has been previously proposed that one should distinguish between two subspecies of A. montana, subsp. montana occurring mainly in Central and Eastern Europe and subsp. atlantica in the southwestern range of the species distribution, i.e., on the Iberian Peninsula. The question hence arises whether or not the geographic origin of Arnica montana flowers is of any relevance for the medicinal use of the herbal drug and the pharmaceutical quality, efficacy and safety of its products and whether the chemical/pharmacological differences should not be recognized in pharmacopoeia monographs. The present review attempts to answer these questions based on a summary of the current state of botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological evidence. Full article

Numerous studies have examined the complex relationship between factors like embankment downspout spacing, height, slope, and rainfall characteristics in the quest to find the best spacing for embankment downspouts. Defining the correct spacing between road drainage elements is of utmost importance in minimizing water flow on roadways. This paper presents a methodology based on numerical methods for the design of road drainage systems using the Iber model. The objective of the work is to propose a tool and criteria for analyzing the hydraulic behavior of runoff on highways, determine the appropriate drainage behavior, and apply the methodology in a case study. This case study is based on a straight highway section with slopes up to 5%, according to Spanish road design regulations. Different dimensions are considered for the chute, drainage channel, collection nozzle, and downspout over the embankment. Tests are carried out to evaluate the separation between downspouts, the longitudinal slope, and the size of the nozzles. The results show the suitable hydraulic performance of the model, besides providing the absorption capacity of each downspout. The influence of the nozzle size, the slope, and the width of the causeway on the draughts and velocities is analyzed. The influence of downspout spacing and nozzle type on road drainage design is determined. In summary, this article presents a methodology and criteria for the design of road drainage systems and shows the results obtained in a case study using the Iber model. The results help in understanding the influence of different variables on the hydraulic behavior of road runoff and provide relevant information for proper drainage design. Full article

The chronological period from the beginning of the Chalcolithic Age to the end of the Bronze Age on the Iberian northern sub-plateau of the Iberic Peninsula involves interesting social and cultural phenomena, such as the appearance of the Bell Beaker and, later, the Cogotas I cultures. This work constructs a genetic characterisation of the maternal lineages of the human population that lived on the northern sub-plateau between 5000 and 3000 years ago through an analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a kind of genetic marker that is inherited through maternal lineages, unaltered from generation to generation. Population and cultural questions are investigated through mtDNA analyses. This study intends to shed light on the following questions. Were individuals who were buried together in multiple or collective burials biologically related through their maternal lineages? Were there distinct maternal human lineages in the same or different geographical areas if different material cultures (Bell Beaker and Cogotas I) were associated with the arrival of new human populations who established close biological relationships with the endogenous populations? Or could this be the result of the transmission of knowledge without human populations mixing? Another important question is whether the material cultures were related to the female populations. We analysed 91 individuals from 28 different archaeological sites of the Iberian northern sub-plateau from four different chrono-cultural periods (Pre-Bell Beaker, Bell Beaker, Proto-Cogotas I, and Cogotas I), from the end of the Chalcolithic Age up to the Bronze Age. There were two historical moments of new populations arriving: the first during the Pre-Bell Beaker period, associated with the K mtDNA haplogroup, and the second during the Proto-Cogotas I culture, with new lineages of the H, HVO, and T haplogroups. Neither of these new population flows were directly associated with the maximum development of the two main material cultures Bell Beaker and Cogotas I, so they must have occurred immediately beforehand, during the Pre-Bell Beaker and Proto-Cogotas I periods, respectively. However, we cannot discard an association between the populations and material cultures. Curiously, it has also been observed that there was also a tendency towards multiple burials, in which the individuals who were buried together belonged to the same maternal lineage, during these two periods of population change. This study has shed some light on the populational changes that occurred through these different periods in this specific geographical area of the northern sub-plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. Full article