Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences

Eco-Intelligent Trade Networks: AI Applications in Regional Economic Development and Their Implications for Environmental Management

Na Wang — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Eco-intelligent trade networks are emerging as a critical governance frontier where regional economic development and environmental management intersect. With the increase in networked production and logistics systems, the environmental issues of greenhouse gas emissions, air contamination, water stress, and land-use change spread across jurisdiction by trade. Artificial intelligence can provide new functionality to monitor, assign, and control these impacts because it combines the different streams of heterogeneous data, such as customs and transaction data, logistics telemetry, remote sensing data, facility monitoring data, and corporate disclosures. The review is a synthesis of artificial intelligence (AI) applications that help in direct support of environmental management functions in trade networks, i.e., monitoring and anomaly detection, measurement-reporting-verification, risk-based enforcement targeting, and regulatory decision support. It also looks at the operationalization of AI-enabled intelligence using policy tools and corporate practices such as green corridors and smart ports, sustainable procurement and due diligence, certification, and claims verification, green upgrading industrial policy, and environmentally linked finance-based risk management. In these spheres, it can be seen that AI can enhance transparency and resource distribution, although the results will rely on the backbone of data and accounting, institutional capabilities, as well as governance protections. Major risks are rebound effects, which increase overall burdens with efficiency increase, a burden on less monitored areas and suppliers, and exclusion of data-poor suppliers and regions, and obscurity, which adversely affects procedural legitimacy. The review frames AI as a component of an auditable decision system and not a context-independent tool of optimization, offering priorities to priorities on causal assessment, benchmarking, and inclusive guidelines to implementation.

Beyond Point Sampling: AI-Enabled Sensor Fusion and Holistic Frameworks for Aquatic System Intelligence

Xiaochen Zhang — Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The fast-changing environment is becoming a greater influence on aquatic systems, and the traditional approaches still look at conventional monitoring as point-based sampling, which under-samples the spatiotemporal variation and episodic dynamics. This review summarizes future trends toward ultraviolet sampling using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enhanced sensor fusion and comprehensive conceptualizations of the intelligence of aquatic systems. We then explore how aquatic observation has evolved over the years by beginning with the limitations of fixed stations and grab sampling and moving on to multi-modal observations involving the incorporation of in-situ networks, remote sensing, and mobile autonomous systems. Subsequently, we are interested in AI methods that allow integration of heterogeneous streams of data with an accent on fusion architectures, representation learning, and hybrids that are based on data-driven inference and physics-based constraints. We elaborate on these developments with holistic models that combine sensor fusion with system-level modeling, such as digital aquatic twins, real-time assimilation, and adaptive spatiotemporal intelligence for detecting events and understanding processes. In a variety of uses, including water quality evaluation, ecosystem health surveillance, and hazards early warning, among others, we point out how the combination of AI and AI-sensing systems can be used to enhance state estimation, forecasting, and decision support in the face of uncertainty. Lastly, we discover unresolved issues, such as a lack of data, no stationarities in generalization, the limitations of computational and operational projects, and the need to have trustworthy, scalable aquatic intelligence, and outline future research opportunities. This review brings together sensing, AI, and systems thinking to create a roadmap on how to transform heterogeneous observations into actionable insights that result in resilient aquatic management.

Assessing the Vulnerability of Outdoor Recreation to Increasing Heatwaves and Droughts

Huang Zheng — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Heatwaves can lead to extreme weather conditions, and droughts are becoming more common, lasting, and operationally significant, exposing outdoor recreation to these elements. This review summarizes existing data on the impacts of extreme heat and water shortages on recreation participation, safety, the experience quality, and management, and considers methods used to assess vulnerability. We incorporate results with an Exposure Sensitivity Adaptive Capacity well-constructed that interrelates hazards with outcomes in the form of heat strain in physiological processes, barriers to hydrologic access, distinct aggrade-water offenses, alteration of the ecosystem, and operational failures. Vulnerability is highly non-linear, so in all forms of recreation, increased risk due to heat is experienced to prevent thermal stress limits, and abrupt opportunity loss due to drought in the forms of streams flowing, the last stream flowing, and a regulation protection being above a specific threshold. Exertional heat stress and microclimate variability have a disproportionate effect on trial-based and endurance activities, and water-based recreation is limited due to low flows/levels and mediated by water-quality hazards associated with warming, e.g., harmful algal blooms. The emerging prominence of compound and cascading processes, such as the interaction of heat-drought and wildfire smoke, makes it rather challenging to attribute and predict such events, which are more likely to lead to closures and displacement. We approach this methodologically, suggesting that heatwaves and drought should be consistently defined, that heatwave and hydrologic definitions need to be applied more frequently in recreation-relevant exposure metrics, and that effective application of adaptation and equity indices requires rigorous estimation. We end up with integrated decision support priorities that convert the indicators into operational triggers and inclusive risk communication.

Engineering Resilience: Novel Approaches in Ecosystem Restoration

Shuofeng Qi, Lamei Zhao, Xiaomei Hui — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Climate nonstationary and exacerbated disturbance regimes, as well as ubiquitous human alteration of landscapes and seascapes, are increasingly challenging ecosystem restoration. In this scenario, restoration strategies based on static reference states, or short-term structural goals, tend to provide delicate results that fail when subjected to extreme events, new stress factors, or changing baselines. The current essay is a synthesis of the new paradigm of engineering resiliency towards ecosystem restoration that combines the principles of design-oriented engineering and theories of ecology of complexity, thresholds, and adaptive capacity. We explain conceptual differences and complement between ecological and engineering resilience, as well as highlighting resistance, recovery trajectories, and adaptability as aspects of the operation of performance. We also study fresh resilience-enabling strategies, such as nature-based solutions and gray-green systems, ecological engineering and system-level design, digital technologies of monitoring and prediction, and adaptive management based on the concept of feedback-control. In the land, freshwater, coastal, and urban systems, we evaluate such strategies underway to increase the integration of persistence of functions and provide ecosystem-vitality despite disturbance, as well as the inescapable problems related to scaling, governance, equity, and long-term sustainability. Last but not least, we define the areas of priority in research, such as the standardized measures of resilience, long-term monitoring, uncertainty-aware models, and responsible innovation to reduce unintentional ecological and social effects. Reconceptualizing restoration as a performance-based design challenge that is enshrined in coupled human-natural systems, engineering resilience provides a transdisciplinary, rigorously grounded approach to creating ecosystems that survive and adapt in a fast-changing world.

Molecular and Geochemical Tracers for the Precise Apportionment of Hydrocarbon Spills from Vessels in Critical Coastal Habitats

Yin Yu, Fang Zhou, Xiaoguang You, Shiyue Wang — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The danger of hydrocarbon spills from vessels presents long-term threats to vital coastal environments, such as mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass meadows, coral reef-related shorelines, and ecological sensitivity is coupled with maritime activities. The accurate source apportionment is necessary to perform impact assessment, remediation prioritization and regulatory enforcement, but it is still hard to achieve because of the complex source mixtures and fast post-release weathering. This is a review of molecular and geochemical tracer techniques to determine and apportion ship-produced hydrocarbons in coastal systems. We assess the forensic usefulness of diagnostic biomarkers (hopanes, steranes), n-alkanes and isoprenoids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and explore the effects of evaporation, dissolution, photo-oxidation, and biodegradation on molecular fingerprints and their effect on interpretation. They are complementary geochemical evidence, such as stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes (δ¹³C, δD), radiocarbon limits separating fossil and modern carbon, and elemental indications and evidence of marine fuel and lubricants, including trace metals. The combinations of multi-tracer evidence and chemometric techniques and mixing models, with highlighting built-in discrimination between refined fuels, solving overlapping sources, and quantifying the uncertainty of the situation in complex coastal environments are mentioned. Lastly, we cover new directions of future development, such as high-resolution mass spectrometry, analysis of compound-specific isotopes, and machine learning, and the requirement of standardized protocols and libraries of weathered marine fuels. In combination, these developments can enhance defensible attribution of murderous tanker pollution and uphold protection of susceptible shoreline ecosystems.

From Reactor to Receptor: Coupled Chemical Cycles of Industrial Pollutants across Atmospheric, Pedologic, and Groundwater Systems

Fuchun Liu, Fuliang Li — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This review is based on the synthesis of the movement and transformation of industrial pollutants between the sources of emissions and the human and ecological receptors based on the tight-knit chemical processes involving the atmosphere, soil, and groundwater. Instead of taking linear source-pathway-receptor routes, several contaminants are subjected to repetitive partitioning, reaction, retention, and remobilization among environmental compartments. We define the reactor-to-receptor continuum based on the idea of connecting attributes of sources (speciation, phase state, volatility, and reactivity) to atmospheric effects (processing, deposition, and exchange). There is atmospheric oxidation, photochemistry, and gas-particle partitioning, which change the composition of the pollutants and dictate the chemical form that is deposited on the land surfaces. Soil sorption to organic matter and minerals, pH, and redox-specified reactions, and reactions facilitated by microorganisms control mobility, persistence, and bioavailability, and provide environments of secondary emissions and retarded leaching. Through vadose zone transport and aquifer transport, underground transport provides long-term retention and selective redox conditions capable of neutralizing the contaminants by precipitation and biodegradation, or producing mobile and toxic daughter products. We focus on feedback from the emphasized system, the nonexposure to the underlying induction of the disturbance, and, for the example of legacy contamination, we refer to the predominance of long-term risk as the dominant driver. Lastly, we assess combined modeling and monitoring solutions that can solve cross-media fluxes and transformations, and also, we talk about their implications for exposure assessment, regulation, and sustainable industrial design.

Urban Geology: Challenges and Opportunities in Rapidly Expanding Cities

Feng Xiao — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The study of geological materials, processes, and groundwater systems in relation to the built environment is known as urban geology and is growing in significance as the surface area of cities and their subsurface complexity continue to expand rapidly. This is a review of the existing knowledge on the geological nature of urban settings and the assessment of the obstacles and opportunities presented in fast-growing cities. Cities also tend to cover a wide range of different sedimentary sequences and altered topography, as well as have a large amount of artificial substrate that makes stratigraphy difficult to understand, geotechnics difficult to predict, and hydrogeology harder to connect. Rapid urbanization may increase geohazards, such as landslides, floods, seismic shaking impact, sinkholes, and land subsidence caused by groundwater extraction. Simultaneously, urbanization stresses groundwater resources and predisposes them to long-term contamination in the underground, which is determined by the heterogeneity of geological formations and the historical background of infrastructure. The review emphasizes the role of urban geology in reducing risk via hazard zonation, site characterization and monitoring, and sustainable development via geology-informed land-use planning, resilient infrastructure design, and strategic control of the use of subsurface space for transport, utilities, and to develop low-carbon energy resources like geothermal systems. The solution to the urban underground data problem is greatly enhanced by progress in remote sensing, near-surface geophysics, and 3D geological modeling, but cannot be effectively adopted due to gaps in data, fragmented governance, and a lack of cross-disciplinary integration. In order to achieve safer and more sustainable cities, there is a need to strengthen urban geological databases, policy frameworks, and capacity building.

Hydrogen Blending in Natural Gas Networks: Embrittlement-Induced Leakage as a New Threat to Hydrogeological Integrity

Buyun Huang — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The concept of hydrogen mixing into the pre-existing natural gas systems is a more and more actively encouraged approach to the decarbonization of the near term, but its integrity concerns go well beyond the traditional pipeline safety and subsurface environmental statement. This review summarizes existing information about hydrogen-material interactions in existing gas infrastructure and presents the leakage that occurs as a result of embrittlement as a new threat to hydrogeological integrity. We initially look at the processes involved in hydrogen ingress weakening metallic and non-metallic elements, and we mainly focus on how microstructural trapping, residual stress, weld heterogeneity, and pressure cycling accelerate crack initiation and subcritical crack propagation. We next consider how these degradation mechanisms can be converted to more diffuse and sustained leakage pathways than the more normal methane-based failures, and hydrogen is more likely to escape via microdefects and broken seals. The review also evaluates what happens to leaked hydrogen in soils and aquifers, and shows that it is highly mobile and capable of altering redox conditions, inducing hydrogenotrophic microorganisms to grow, and affecting the mobility of elements and co-contaminant redox-sensitive elements. Mixed scenarios of leakage of hydrogen and methane are considered as compound hazards, making it difficult to detect, attribute, and assess the risk. Lastly, we list the major gaps in research and governance, such as the necessity to have blended-gas embrittlement data in realistic operating conditions, hydrogen-sensitive leakage identification in buried infrastructure, and correlated transport reaction models, which relate the evolution of leakage to the effects of groundwater. In assuring decarbonization through hydrogen blending, a material-hydrogeology approach will be crucial to avoid any unintended effects of carbon on the subsurface environment.

Integrating Aesthetic Value into Ecosystem Services Assessment: A Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Landscape Management

Weimo Wang — Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The concept of aesthetic value as a part of ecosystem services (ES) assessment is needed to manage the landscape sustainably, although it is still conceptually limited and methodologically divided. This review brings together progress in defining, measuring, and integrating aesthetic value into ES frameworks, and specifically how it can be viewed as a cultural ecosystem service, and how it mediates between ecological conditions and human well-being and behavior. We look at qualitative and participatory methods, which can capture contextual and culturally ingrained perceptions, quantitative measures, and metrics of the landscape that can be compared, and spatially explicit approaches that can be used in planning and scenario analysis. We also evaluate the emerging computational methods, the crowdsourced and image-based information, and point out the possibilities of mapping on a large scale and the difficulties of representativeness, bias, and validation. Based on this synthesis, we suggest a conceptual integration pathway that considers aesthetic value as a joint product between landscape qualities and human senses, expressly showing their interactions, synergies, and trade-offs with other ecosystem services on different scales. It finds significant standardization gaps, dynamics of time, and plural valuation identified and describes the next directions of research on mixed-methods designs, uncertainty management, and more robust science-policy interfaces. Landscape planning can be used to create ecological sustainability and multifunctional landscapes by incorporating aesthetic value in more explicit ES assessment, which can be used to support resilient and multifunctional landscapes.

From Signal to Insight: The Role of Communication Systems in the Remote Sensing Data Value Chain

Yuanfeng Liu — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

High-resolution sensors, satellites in greater numbers, and autonomous flying platforms have ushered in a new era of massive amounts of data, a diversity of modalities, and a sense of urgency in their application due to remote sensing. Although sensing and analytics advances have been extensively investigated, communication systems are taking the broader role in deciding whether remote sensing information can be provided with adequate fidelity, timeliness, and accessibility to create actionable insight. The review uses communication as a value-making part of the remote sensing data value chain, which connects signal acquisition, data transport, processing architectures, and insight generation in an end-to-end view. We combine significant communication architectures of spaceborne, airborne, and hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks, and explain how physical-, link-, and network-layer constraints are passed downstream to affect preprocessing decisions, quality of data products, and real-time utility. The review also looks at the increased integration of communication and computation based on edge and distributed processing, communication-conscious data reduction, and joint optimization schemes that trade off bandwidth, latency, energy, and analytical goals. Lastly, we point to new trends: integrated non-terrestrial networks, software-defined and intelligent communications, and learning-based adaptation; as well as open security, scalability, and interoperability challenges. This article will facilitate clarity in the trade-off in designs and the research focus of creating communication-conscious remote sensing systems by integrating sensing-centric and communications-centric perspectives that will more efficiently transform signals into dependable time-independent insight.

Integrated Stability Assessment of Mine Tailings under Static and Seismic Conditions: Application of Limit Equilibrium Methods and Eurocode 7 to the Auzelles Site (France)

Diaka Sidibé, Mamadou Diallo, Ahmed Amara Konaté — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The instability of mine tailings represents a major environmental and geotechnical challenge, particularly due to the risk of slope failure and contamination of surrounding watercourses. At the Auzelles site (Auvergne, France), the absence of prior stability assessment combined with steep natural slopes (35°–40°) constitutes a critical factor of instability. This study aims to evaluate the stability of slag heap 1 by analyzing the influence of slope geometry under both static and pseudo-static conditions. The methodology is based on limit equilibrium analysis using Talren software, with the simplified Bishop method, in accordance with both the traditional approach and the EN1997-1 Eurocode 7 framework. Two representative cross-sections were analyzed before and after earthworks. The analysis assumes free-draining tailings conditions, with no pore water pressure considered. The results show that the initial state of the slopes is unstable, with safety factors of 1.07 under static conditions, 0.89 under pseudo-static conditions, and 0.78 using the Eurocode approach, indicating a high risk of failure. After slope regrading to 27°, a significant improvement in stability is observed. The safety factors increase to 1.42–1.44 under static conditions, 1.11–1.15 under pseudo-static conditions, and 1.03–1.05 using the Eurocode approach, satisfying the required stability criteria. These results demonstrate that slope geometry is the primary controlling factor of stability at the site, and that reprofiling significantly enhances safety conditions. The study confirms the effectiveness of combining traditional and normative approaches for reliable stability assessment and highlights the importance of considering both static and seismic conditions in the long-term management of tailings storage facilities.

Research on Accurate Fire Point Positioning Technology in the Forest Region of Northeast China Based on Aerial Photography

Yingyu An, Yang Ju, Shuxin Han, Shuang Wu, Xiaolei Su — Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Forest fires are one of the most destructive natural disasters to global ecosystems, and accurate and rapid fire point positioning is crucial for forest fire management. In this study, we propose an accurate fire point positioning technology based on aerial photography. This method uses a high-accuracy Global Positioning System and an inertial measurement unit to record the flight attitude and location information of an aircraft, and then it employs precise correction to convert camera coordinates to the aircraft body coordinate system. Finally, this method utilizes a weighted error correction algorithm to fuse the information from multiple images, thereby achieving accurate fire point positioning. To verify the effectiveness of the fire point positioning method proposed in this research, two fire points in the Greater Khingan Region of Heilongjiang Province are selected for verification. A Yun-12 aircraft equipped with a high-accuracy positioning and image-recording sensor was used for fire point observations. The longitude, latitude, flight altitude, roll angle, pitching angle and yaw angle of the aircraft are recorded in real time during image capture. Images of fire points at different angles were captured from multiple flight routes, and they are used to verify the performance and accuracy of the fire point positioning model. The comparison of the latitude and longitude information between estimated and observed fire points indicates that the errors of fire point positioning are reduced to less than 160 m in the model. This represents a 5–6 fold improvement in positioning accuracy over current meteorological-satellite-based kilometer-scale fire point positioning methods, highlighting the notable potential of this technique for precise forest fire positioning.

Solid Waste Analysis across USTP System: Basis for a Sustainable Management Framework

Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Solid waste management remains a critical concern for academic institutions striving for sustainability. This study assesses waste generation and composition across the seven campuses of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) to inform a system-wide solid waste management framework. A seven-day waste analysis and characterization study (WACS) was conducted in USTP CDO (Cagayan de Oro Campus), Claveria, Panaon, Oroquieta, Villanueva, Jasaan, and Alubijid to determine waste types, percentage composition, weight, volume, and per capita generation. Results show notable variation among campuses. USTP CDO generated 13 waste types, with residuals comprising 41%. Claveria recorded 14 types, with recyclable plastics (53%) dominating. Oroquieta and Panaon each had 12 types, with biodegradable waste at 53% and 52%, respectively. Villanueva (11 types) and Jasaan (16 types) were led by recyclable plastics at 29% and 27%, while Alubijid (6 types) had the highest share of residuals (51%). Differences in waste weight, volume, and density reflect variations in campus size and activity levels. Per capita estimates indicate that USTP CDO had the highest waste generation (0.90 kg/person/day; 1.2 L/person/day), followed by Claveria, while other campuses showed moderate to lower rates. The findings highlight the need for tailored waste management strategies across campuses. The study recommends implementing a comprehensive recycling program, strengthening waste segregation, and adopting appropriate technologies to reduce waste generation and improve overall system efficiency.

Population Dynamics of Parasitic Nematodes as an Indicator of Soil Health of Eagle Island Mangrove Ecosystem, Port Harcourt

Aloysius Oswoabo, Sidney Obidinma Nzeako, Aroloye Ofo Numbere — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Mangrove forests globally are biodiversity hotspots, supporting microbes, vertebrates, and invertebrates. We thus postulate that, because mangrove soil is a habitat for numerous organisms, it will be a hotbed of both soil- and plant-based nematodes. This study is significant because there is a dearth of information on nematode studies in the Niger Delta region. The present study was based on samples collected from five stations to assess dynamics in population and trophic diversities in a mangrove ecosystem. Data Analysis showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) of nematodes in Rhizophora spp. (61.2%) and Avicennia spp (38.8%). Nematode community composition was evaluated as enumerated by the Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’), Simpson’s (D) and Hill’s Index of evenness based on the weighted means of Colonizer-Persister (c-p) guilds. A total of 13 genera of nematodes were recorded with bacterivores representing (10%), fungal feeders (13%) and obligates (77%). Based on taxonomic groups, (49%) belong to the family, Tylenchoidae, 28.3% Dorylaimoidae, 10.3% Rhabditidae, 7.4% Criconematoidae and 4.1% Aphelenchoididae. The Shannon and Simpson indices registered values of 1.0 and 0.5 respectively indicating low diversity. Evenness Index scored a value of 0.8, which is close to 1. Our findings indicate an average even distribution amongst families within the Eagle Island soil which indicates stability of the community. The contribution of bacterivorous and herbivorous nematodes with high c-p values was high in our study. This thus led to high Maturity Index (3.5), indicating stability.

The Impact of Agricultural Sector Growth on Total National Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Southeast Asia

Eka Nurjati, Septian Adityawati — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The agricultural sector plays a significant role in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in developing countries within the ASEAN region. Despite ASEAN’s status as a group of emerging economies, environmental pressures continue to increase alongside economic and demographic growth. This study aims to examine the determinants of greenhouse gas emissions in six ASEAN countries—Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Malaysia—using panel data from 1997 to 2019 obtained from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators (WDI). Employing a robust fixed-effects model to address heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation, the results reveal that forest area and population size have a positive and statistically significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions, while fertilizer consumption, agricultural land, livestock production, and gross domestic product (GDP) are not statistically significant. These findings indicate that environmental degradation in ASEAN is driven by land-use dynamics and demographic pressures. The positive effect of forest area suggests that increases in forest coverage do not necessarily translate into lower emissions, likely due to forest degradation, deforestation, and land conversion. Meanwhile, the significant role of population highlights the increasing demand for resources, energy, and food as key drivers of emissions. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of strengthening sustainable land-use management, improving forest governance, and enhancing resource efficiency.