Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences

Encouraging Thai Real Estate Developers Toward Net Zero: A Case Study on Factors Influencing Decision-Making in Net Zero Building Development

2025-07-24T16:27:28+08:00

The concept of Net Zero Carbon Buildings, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is essential in addressing climate change. However, the development of such buildings in Thailand faces significant challenges, including high construction costs, uncertain returns, and limited investment incentives. This study explores the factors influencing real estate developers' decisions to pursue Net Zero Carbon Buildings in Thailand, with a focus on physical, financial, and policy-related elements. Data collection was done with 388 respondents who are stakeholders, including developers, consultants, designers, and sustainability experts, through an online questionnaire, and analyzed using Multiple Regression Analysis. The independent variables in the analytical model consist of three groups of factors: physical buildings, climate finance, and climate policy. The results indicate that physical building factors, including building age, engineering systems, and design; climate finance factors, such as project cost increases, financial returns, and investment incentives; and climate policy factors, including government policies, international climate agreements, and carbon taxes, significantly influence development decisions. Government policies, building engineering systems, and financial incentives were identified as key positive drivers for investment, while carbon taxes and energy efficiency-focused designs were found to potentially discourage investment due to higher costs. The study concludes that substantial government support such as tax incentives, grants, and low-interest financing is critical to fostering investment in Net Zero Carbon Buildings. Additionally, raising awareness among developers and the private sector about the long-term benefits of these projects is essential to strengthening investment incentives.

Solvent-Driven Fractional Crystallization Applied to the Desalination of a Concentrated Wastewater by Reverse Osmosis

2025-07-17T11:14:41+08:00

This paper reports the efficiency of the solvent-driven fractional crystallization (SDFC) process using ethanol, also known as antisolvent crystallization, in the treatment of a concentrated wastewater by reverse osmosis (RO). This experiment evaluated the effects of varying the volumetric mixing ratio of ethanol-to-RO concentrate, in conjunction with the incorporation of Ca(OH)₂, on the efficiency of magnesium and boron removal. The incorporation of Ca(OH)₂resulted in an enhancement of the reduction of magnesium and boron concentrations at a mixing ratio of 85:15 (v/v) and a pH of 12. In these conditions, the removal efficiencies achieved for magnesium and boron were 98.64% and 90.82%, respectively. The findings indicate that Ca(OH)₂has a significant impact on enhancing the removal efficiencies of these elements. The RO concentrated wastewater used in this experiment exhibited a salinity of 50,497.200 ppm prior to the SDFC test. The experimental results also showed a 48.10% reduction in salinity and 28.10% salt precipitation at the maximum mixing ratio and pH level examined. The tested process demonstrated significant reduction of scaling ions including calcium, magnesium, and sulfate. Similar behavior was observed for arsenic and manganese. Moderate removal efficiencies were observed for monovalent ions such as chloride, sodium, and potassium. However, the process was no effective for iron and lithium, which showed low removal efficiencies. Based on the results obtained, SDFC technology is seen as a promising technological option for application in the treatment of complex mining wastewaters.

Development of a DEM in the GIS “PANORAMA” Based on a Topographic Map for the Southern Territory of the Fergana Valley

2025-06-18T15:05:44+08:00

The capabilities of GIS for constructing a digital elevation model of a mountainous area and visualizing a spatial image of the terrain are given in this paper. Graphic, digital data and topographic maps, which are the main sources for GIS, are described. The methods of vectorization of isolines and the requirements for technical means of processing graphic materials are presented in detail. The advantages and disadvantages of the DEM of a mountainous region are shown here. Segmentation methods using an interpolation polynomial are described in detail. A DEM of the mountainous area where the border between the republics runs was constructed in 2D and 3D formats using the GIS Panorama. Reducing the chord length when segmenting isolines on topographic maps leads to more accurate DEM construction. A vertical profile of a mountainous area with a visibility zone between two points was constructed. It is expected that the improved latitude, longitude and altitude parameters of the topographic map will be used to form a regional geodetic network and geospatial analysis of mountain ranges. It is proposed to use not only satellite data, but also classical geodetic networks and maps. It is recommended to use satellite and aerial photography to clarify the topographic and geodetic support of the studied area.