Newsletters   Subscription   Contributions       Newsletter issue n° 12 - November 08

Note from the Editor

As the newly appointed Editor for the Environmental Technology Research Newsletter I greet all of our Readers. First, I would like to say thanks to Mr Avelino Gonzalez Gonzalez, our former Colleague at the Unit I/3 who edited the Newsletter for a long time until he left our Unit having been appointed to the Unit S/3 of the DG Research. Without his tremendous efforts the Newsletter would have been disappeared.

The year of 2008 was very busy for most of us. There were many successful events and some failures, also. It was not a peaceful year because of the local wars and terrorist attacks in all around the Globe, and even the global monetary crises arose moving from the US to Europe. I hope, in 2009 the number of the local wars will be reduced, the World will be more peaceful and safe, and we can pay more attention to solve the challenges of the global economical crises. The crises certainly will cause a lot of trouble, unemployment, poverty and even hunger, but in the mean time it will provide a good opportunity to change our attitude to the environment. Traditional industry will be under pressure, and they will be enforced to change their products and technologies. Why not to turn to the environmentally friendly technologies in this situation? Those, who look at the horizon far ahead, certainly will follow this way. We have had many good results and we have several ongoing research projects in the field of environmental technologies. I am sure that outcomes of the European Union environmental technology research activities will contribute to renewals of the industrial technologies and will serve the environment as well. Therefore this special research will be mutually beneficial both for the Human and the Nature. Beside providing information on past and future conferences, workshops and other scientific events the Environmental Technology Research Newsletter has a traditional role in delivering information on new results and disseminating knowledge to the specialists. As the new Editor, my ambition is to deliver as many information as possible on the European environmental technology research activities to the proper audience in due time. I would be able to fulfil this task only if I will be supported by the members of the research community as well as the stakeholders and end users. Do not hesitate to send us brief information on your activities, conferences, new results, deliverables or even research needs. All of your contributions are welcome and will be considered seriously for publishing!

Finally, I hope that all the Readers will complete a successful year at the end of December. I wish you and your families many successful events in the year of 2009 as well as pleasant and peaceful life.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Laszlo Szendrodi

Editor of the ETR Newsletter  

FCH-JU-2008-1

Joint Technology Initiative on Hydrogen and Fuel cells (JTI FCH): First call for proposals.
Specific Programme(s): Cooperation                                         Call identifier: FCH-JU-2008-1
Date of publication: 8th October 2008                                        Deadline: 15th January 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
THEMES/ACTIVITIES: Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1) Indicative budget: EUR 28.1 million from the FCH JU 2008 budget
FUNDING SCHEME: Collaborative Project (Small or medium-scale focused research project) and Coordination and Support Actions
 

The aim of the FCH Joint Undertaking is to execute a programme of RTD activities in Europe in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen that contributes to the implementation of FP7. Carried out with the cooperation and involvement of stakeholders from industry (including small and medium size enterprises), research centres, universities and regions, it will build on the achievements of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform. Eligibility conditions, evaluation procedures and other details are described in the call fiche (http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.CooperationDetailsCallPage&call_id=172#infopack)
 

Evaluations are expected to be carried out during the month of February 2009. Evaluation results are estimated to be available within 2 months after the closure date. A reserve list of projects might be established. It is expected that the Grant Agreement negotiations for the short-listed proposals to be open by April/May 2009.
 

FP7-NMP-ENV-2009

Joint Call for Themes 4: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies and 6: Environment (including Climate Change)

Specific Programme(s):  Cooperation                                             Call identifier: FP7-NMP-ENV-2009

Date of publication: 19 November 2008                                        Deadline: 31 March 2009 at 17.00.00, Brussels local time

THEMES/ACTIVITIES: ENV.2009.3.1.3.2 and NMP-2009-1.3-1OJ         Reference: OJ C296 of 19 November 2008    

Indicative budget12: 10 million EUR of which EUR 5 million from Theme 4 – NMP in 2009 and EUR 5 million from Theme 6 – Environment 

TOPIC IDENTIFIER Activities towards the development of appropriate solutions for the use, recycling and/or final treatment of nanotechnology-based products

FUNDING SCHEME: Collaborative Project (Small or medium-scale focused research project)

This topic is implemented jointly with Theme 4 – 'Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies', hence each proposal must be submitted only once, either to topic NMP-2009-1.3-1 or to topic ENV.2009.3.1.3.2, but not to both. Minimum conditions: at least 3 independent legal entities, each of which is established in a MS or AC, and there are no two of which are established in the same MS or AC. Eligibility conditions, evaluation procedures and other details are described in the call fiche (http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.CooperationDetailsCallPage&call_id=181#infopack).

Evaluations are expected to be carried out during the month of April 2009. It is expected that the contract negotiations for the short-listed proposals will be opened in June 2009.

More details available at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.CooperationDetailsCallPage&call_id=142

New prosperities for some environmental technologies

On 26th November 2008 in Brussels The European Commission adopted the communication entitled "A European Economic Recovery Plan" [COM(2008) 800] and delivered it to the Council. This Plan consists of an immediate budgetary impulse amounting to € 200 bn, made up of a budgetary expansion by Member States of € 170 bn, and EU funding in support of immediate actions of the order of € 30 bn. The strategic aims of the Recovery Plan are to (i) swiftly stimulate demand and boost consumer confidence; (ii) lessen the human cost of the economic downturn and its impact on the most vulnerable by reducing the loss of jobs and/or helping people return rapidly to the labour market, rather than face long-term unemployment; (iii) help Europe to prepare to take advantage when growth returns so that the European economy is in tune with the demands of competitiveness and the needs of the future pursuing the necessary structural reforms, supporting innovation, and building a knowledge economy; and (iv) speed up the shift towards a low carbon economy. There 10 actions are proposed in conjunction with the four priority areas of the Lisbon Strategy. Three of the 10 proposed actions provide good opportunities for related environmental technology research projects to disseminate and exploit their latest results boosting the innovation.

Action No. 6: Improve energy efficiency in buildings

The Commission invites the Member States to make a reduction of property tax for energy-performing buildings. Furthermore, Member States should re-programme their structural funds operational programmes' to devote a greater share to energy-efficiency investments. The Commission (together with the EIB and a number of national development banks) schedules to launch a fund for energy, climate change and infrastructure to fund equity and quasi-equity projects.

Action No. 7: Promote the rapid take-up of "green products"

The Commission will propose reduced VAT rates for green products and services, aimed at improving in particular energy efficiency of buildings which encourages Member States to provide further incentives to consumers to stimulate demand for environmentally-friendly products. In addition, Member States should rapidly implement environmental performance requirements for external power supplies, stand-by and off mode electric power consumption, set top boxes and fluorescent lamps. The Commission will urgently draw up measures for other products which offer very high potential for energy savings such as televisions, domestic lighting, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, boilers and air-conditioners.

Action No. 9: Developing clean technologies for cars and construction

It will be established to support innovation in manufacturing, in particular in the construction industry and the automobile sector which have recently seen demand plummet as a result of the crisis and which also face significant challenges in the transition to the green economy. The Commission proposes to launch 3 major partnerships between the public and private sectors:

– In the automobile sector, a 'European green cars initiative', involving research on a broad range of technologies and smart energy infrastructures essential to achieve a breakthrough in the use of renewable and non-polluting energy sources, safety and traffic fluidity. The partnership would be funded by the Community, the EIB, industry and Member States' contributions with a combined envelope of at least € 5 bn.

– In the construction sector, a 'European energy-efficient buildings' initiative, to promote green technologies and the development of energy-efficient systems and materials in new and renovated buildings with a view to reducing radically their energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The initiative should have an important regulatory and standardisation component and would involve a procurement network of regional and local authorities. The estimated envelope for this partnership is € 1bn.

– To increase the use of technology in manufacturing "a factories of the future initiative" will be set up. The objective is to help EU manufacturers across sectors, in particular SMEs, to adapt to global competitive pressures by increasing the technological base of EU manufacturing through the development and integration the enabling technologies of the future, such as engineering technologies for adaptable machines and industrial processes, ICT, and advanced materials. The estimated envelope for this action is € 1.2 bn.

The European Council on its last meeting under the French Presidency on 11-12 December 2008 agreed the Commission communication and urged the Member States to implement the European Economic Recovery Plan as soon as possible. The proposed amount of € 200 bn is around 1,5 % of the European Union GDP.

Certificates Issued by External Auditors. Guidance Notes for Beneficiaries and Auditors. (Version 27 November 2008)

These guidance notes have been compiled to guide beneficiaries and external auditors in the preparation of Certificates on the Financial Statements and on the Methodology for calculating personnel costs/indirect costs under the European Community's 7th RTD Framework Programme (FP7). In particular, the document considers the following topics and related issues: (i) FP7 model Grant Agreement; (ii) Guide to Financial Issues Relating to FP7 Indirect Actions; (iii) Frequently asked questions (FAQs) which will be published in a separate document on CORDIS. The objective of these guidance notes is to give an overview of the requirements and provisions which are of importance in claiming costs for reimbursement and hence in the Certification on the Financial Statements and on the Methodology. These guidance notes do not reflect an official position of the Commission; only the provisions of the signed Grant Agreement are legally binding. The text of this document is valid as of the present date however it may be updated if necessary to reflect developments in the Certificate on the Financial Statements and on the Methodology procedures as they occur

ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/guidelines-audit-certification_en.pdf

Guidance Notes on Project Reporting. FP7 Collaborative Projects, Networks of Excellence, Coordination and Support Actions, Research for the benefit of Specific Groups (in particular SMEs) (Version 10 November 2008)

This document is the guidance note to help the coordinators and consortia to prepare the periodic and final reports requested in Article II.4 of the Grant Agreement. This is a contractual obligation. It applies to Collaborative Projects, Networks of Excellence, Coordination and Support Actions, and Research for the benefit of Specific Groups (in particular SMEs) under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community1 as well as under Euratom2 with the exception of the IDEAS Programme (ERC/European Research Council) for which a specific guidance note is available (see http://erc.europa.eu). The Commission evaluates the reports and deliverables in accordance with Article II.5 of the Grant Agreement. It may be assisted in this task by independent experts through technical project reviews (Article II.23 of the Grant Agreement). Payments shall be made after the Commission's approval of reports and/or deliverables.

ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/project_reporting_en.pdf

Guidance notes and templates for Project Technical Review involving Independent Expert(s). FP7 Collaborative Projects, Networks of Excellence, Coordination and Support Actions (Version 10 November 2008)

The aim of a technical audit or review is to assess the work carried out under the project over a certain period and provide recommendations to the Commission. Such review may cover scientific, technological and other aspects relating to the proper execution of the project and EC grant agreement (ECGA) in line with its article II.23 (General Conditions). This document provides guidance for the reviewers1 on the review process as well as on the content of their report to the Commission.

ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/project_review_en.pdf

8th European Commission Conference  "Cultural Heritage Research meets Practice",  10-14 November 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The Ljubljana Declaration concluding  the 8th European Commission Conference "Cultural Heritage Research meets Practice" called for a strengthened partnership with end-users. Speaking at the conference, European Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik recognised the importance of cultural heritage to the European economy. "For European companies, the increasing industrial market applied to conservation and restoration of cultural heritage in Europe is estimated to be about €5 billion per year" he said. "Cultural Heritage is also important for the economic competitiveness of Europe with respect especially to tourism (annual turnover of €340 billion and 8 million jobs). We have to work together to protect cultural heritage and exploit this."

The Declaration which led to its adoption by the participants of the conference stressed out that:

- It is of tremendous importance to promote strategies, instruments, funding mechanisms and exploitation measures to extend the engagement of enterprises and end-uses to ensure that research results are adopted in practice;

- It is necessary to embed further heritage research within European Research Framework Programmes and other funding schemes and its utilisation to inform EU Directives related to the environment and society;

- The integration of safeguarding of cultural heritage is a key challenge in the EU Sustainable Development Strategy.

Integration of multi- and inter-disciplinary research into practice does involve the contribution of all key actors in the field of research and education, as well as end-users and stakeholders including industry and SMEs and will contribute to the European Research Area and to the competitiveness of the EU knowledge-based economy in line with the Lisbon Strategy. The Declaration urges all stakeholders to be prepared to address the effects of demographic change, increased tourist numbers and damage arising from more frequent natural disasters and it calls for the promotion of a holistic management of heritage which meets the priorities of the 20/20/20 goal of Europe's climate change policy.

In the context of this conference an exhibition demonstrated that many identification, diagnosis and damage assessment tools, devices and prototypes issued from EC co-founded research projects are now near the market. As only some examples : a "dew sensor" which directly detects condensation on surfaces (Vidrio Project and spin off), the "Survenir" instrument and software which aims to detect the degradation of paper for survey purposes, the "Multiencode" project instrumentation which permits the identification of an art object over the time, the"Authentico" laser instrumentation to detect olfactory markers of solid substances indetectable under normal conditions and the "FINg Art print" device for non contact measurement of roughness and reflectance spectra (coulour) of an art object making it difficult to forge.

Link to the CHRESP website : http://www.chresp.eu

Seminar on Trends in Environmental Biotechnology.  Applications of Nanotechnology in Environmental Biotechnology, 28 November 2008, Delft, the Netherlands

The seminar fulfiled an overview on innovative applications of nanotechnology in environmental biotechnology. Leading scientists presented presentations on Nanotechnology and water/wastewater treatment; Effective, High-Performance Water and Wastewater Purification Systems, Nanomanufacturing: Materials Design and Production and Nanoparticles that sense and treat disease. This seminar provided an opportunity for discussion about various innovative research aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology interfacing with environmental chemistry, environmental engineering and bioprocess technology amongst professionals as well as young researchers and PhD students.

For more information please contact: Vera Schouten, Department Environmental Resources, UNESCO-IHE, Fax : + 31 15 212 2921, e-mail: v.schouten@unesco-ihe.org.

International Workshop and Final Conference “Water Stress and its Mitigation in Europe and Neighbouring Countries” , 21–23 January 2009, Lisbon, Portugal

The AquaStress Workshop and Final Conference will be focused on “Water Stress and its Mitigation in Europe and Neighbouring Countries”. The overall objective of the event is to present to a wide audience the AquaStress project results and achievements and to establish a common stakeholder-driven Network on Water Stress Mitigation in Europe and neighbouring countries. The Conference foresees several keynote speeches by invited experts, the presentation of Final Outputs and some of Case Study experiences. Final session will be dedicated to the formalization of a protocol with stakeholders on the establishment of Network on Water Stress Mitigation. More info about AQUASTRESS Final Conference is available from:

http://www.aquastress.net/share/img_news/66_AquaStress%20Final%20event%20announcement%20_%20final.pdf).

The 5th International Conference Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment (AOP5), March 30 - April 2, 2009 in Berlin, Germany at Messe Berlin Exhibition Grounds

This conference is the first-ever joint conference of the International Water Association and the International Ozone Association aimed at the exchange and the discussion of the latest information on Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) in the field of water, wastewater and groundwater. This will include contributions on AOP-processes and technologies such as ozone based, UV based, photo-catalysis, iron based and plasma discharge technologies or their combination with other technologies like in biological and membrane technologies related to the following areas: (i) Water and wastewater treatment: Industrial wastewater treatment, water re-use, disinfection, by-products; (ii) Sludge treatment: Improved sludge degradation, sedimentation, dewatering; (iii) Soil treatment: Remediation, multiphase reactors, leaching of contaminants;(iv) Treatment of emerging contaminants: Occurrence and treatment of micro-pollutants (e.g. PPCPs) and recalcitrant substances; (v) Fundamentals: Generation of radicals, design and operation of AOP-systems, modelling, reaction kinetics, hydrodynamics, mass-transfer, reactor engineering; (vi) Innovations and applications: Combination of AOPs with other physical and (bio)chemical processes, process improvement, full scale technical studies, novel applications and processes, health care protection. This conference will be an event of major dissemination by the FP6 projects AMEDEUS and EUROMBRA. More info about the AMEDEUS, EUROMBRA and the MBR network to which they belong is available from: http://www.mbr-network.eu/

More info about the Conference is available at http://www.aop-conferences.de/

Final MBR Network workshop, “Salient outcomes of the European R&D projects on MBR technology“, 31 March - 1 April 2009, Berlin, Germany

The Berlin Centre of Competence for Water is organising, under patronage of the International Water Association, the final workshop of the projects from the European cluster MBR-Network. The workshop will present the salient outcomes of the European research projects related to the progress and advances of the MBR technology for municipal wastewater treatment. Results of fundamental and applied research as well as technological breakthroughs will be unveiled in oral presentations by the project partners. Web coalition “MBR-Network”: www.mbr-network.eu. Web for workshop info and registration: www.mbr-network.kompetenz-wasser.de. Contacts: MBR-Network Workshop Organising Committee Berlin Centre of Competence for Water, Cicerostrasse 24, D-10709 Berlin, Tel: + 49 (0)30 536 538 01, Email: workshop@mbr-network.eu.

ECODIS project: concluding activities

ECODIS is an FP6 specific target research project on dynamic sensing of chemical pollution disasters and predictive modelling of their spread and ecological impact. The project is close to completion and the final integrating activities have included an international conference on 'Chemodynamics of Ecosystems' at the Centro Stefano Franscini, Monte Verita, Switzerland (abstracts are available at www.eawag.ch/chemdyn). The outcomes of ECODIS were disseminated to potential end users at a workshop on 28 November at the JRC-IHCP in Ispra, IT. The dynamic approach to risk assessment developed by the project involves measurement and modelling of spatial and temporal distributions of pollutants and their biological impacts, coupled with macro-scale flows in a water body. A technical guidance document on pollution disaster monitoring and ecological impact prediction will be available in early 2009. More info is available at http://www.fenk.wau.nl/ecodis

MEI project: Measuring eco-innovation.

To assist Eurostat in the creation of data on eco-innovation, experts from 5 institutes (MERIT, ZEW, ICL, LEIA and Riso) examined methods for measuring eco-innovation and proposed questions for use in the Commission Innovation Survey. The project funded by DG Research offers a conceptual basis for measuring eco-innovation and proposes guidelines for its practical application by researchers and policymakers. This includes knowledge base creation in eco innovation using patents, R&D and innovation output measures; providing comprehensive information about the eco-innovation behaviour of companies, the macro-effects of eco-innovation activities and the links between micro-macro level actions. The project is done in collaboration with Eurostat, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission. The findings from the MEI project can be found at http://www.merit.unu.edu/MEI or obtained from the project leader Dr René Kemp (UNU-MERIT), E-mail: r.kemp@merit.unimaas.nl; Tel +31 43 3884405.

KNAPPE: Knowledge and Need Assessment on Pharmaceutical Products in Environmental Waters

The KNAPPE project is a FP6 SSA project to describe state-of-arts of the current knowledge concerning the presence of pharmaceutical produtcs (PPs) in the environment and to propose recommendations (priority actions) to lower this presence. Over the (18 month) duration of the project, more than 50 000 data concerning manufacture, consumption, occurrence, elimination, impact, regulation, and stewardship of PPs have been collected and integrated. On the basis of the findings, there is no evidence to indicate that current levels of PPs in the environment appear to be at concentrations that will result in significant acute environmental impact or human damage. However, there is a public concern that such residues exist and thus further cost effective measures to reduce these residues without inhibiting patient care need to be considered.

At this stage, some recommendations in order to reduce the presence of PPs in the environment and hence the mitigation of the fears of the general public have been elaborated. They are presented below and are focussed on two main actions:

Under the action to advance scientific and technical knowledge concerning fate and effect of PP's it is recommended to (i) review effectiveness of current and potential STP processes for removal of PPs: the efficiency of wastewater and drinking water treatment processes need to be improved, either by optimising the existing systems or by the application of improved technologies; (ii) increase knowledge of the environmental effects of PP's: further work is needed to establish the ecological relevance of sub-lethal responses, particularly the relevance of non-standard endpoints, the significance of metabolites and transformation products and to investigate how the impact of mixtures could be evaluated; (iii) develop intelligent testing strategies for chronic toxicity assessment: intelligent testing strategies need to be developed to improve the assessment of chronic toxicity. This should include assessments of mode of action and utilise emerging data from ‘omics’ technologies; (iv) investigate further fate of PP's in STPs: the interaction between PPs and solids, particularly in wastewater treatment plants needs further study.  In particular, a better understanding of whether residues are permanently bound to solids or if they can be released back into the environment; (v) evaluate role of environmental monitoring in risk assessment: there is a need to improve monitoring strategies.  A priority list of PPs should be established, where possible spot sampling should be replaced by integrated methods and there should be a central repository for monitoring data using a standardised format; (vi) evaluate practicalities of adopting a "green pharmacy": the development of ‘greener’ pharmaceuticals needs to be stimulated.  This could be done by providing an incentive of increased patent life, or incorporating the outcome of the environmental risk assessment into the drug approval process.

Under the action to control of emission of PPs into the environment it is recommended to (i) evaluate effectiveness of classification schemes: the Swedish system for the environmental classification of pharmaceuticals is a good method for providing information to health professionals and patients. A review of the value and benefits of this scheme on PPs environmental classification is currently ongoing. We recommend that a general European framework for environmental classification should be developed which could be adapted from country to country in order to take into account the specificity in medical practices and the drug consumption of each country; (ii) manage unused medicines: ‘Take Back’ schemes for unused medicines represent one of the simplest ways to reduce inputs of PPs to the environment.  We recommend that quantitative information should be obtained on the efficiency of existing schemes and that each Member State should then seek to adopt best practices for such schemes, including the provision of information to patients.  A European guideline could be very useful; (iii) evaluate methodologies to better inform public and medical community: strategies to enhance awareness of public and medical community (doctor, pharmacist) of the impact of pharmaceuticals in the environment need to be developed in order to stimulate a more responsible approach to the prescription, delivery, use of medicines and their appropriate disposal; (iv) evaluate need for policy framework reform: The current policy framework is considered sufficient to deal with the issue of PPs in the water environment although implementation could be improved e.g. take back schemes. Environmental risk assessment procedures need to be kept up to date and should be applied to existing, as well as new medicines.  The upgrading of wastewater treatment systems might be an option to reduce environmental residues further but this needs to be considered with respect to cost (both financial and environmental) risk and benefit.

The whole results are available on the Knappe web site (www.knappe-eu.org) or in a CD Rom available upon request to the coordinator Dr. Benoit Roig (benoit.roig@ema.fr).

FLOW-AID: Farm Level Optimal Water management: Assistant for Irrigation under Deficit

FLOW-AID is a 6th Framework European project which started in autumn 2006. Its objective is to contribute to sustainability of irrigated agriculture by developing, testing in relevant conditions, and then optimizing an irrigation management system that can be used at farm level. The system will be used in situations where there is a limited water supply and water quality. The project integrates innovative sensor technologies into a decision support system for irrigation management, taking into consideration relevant factors in a number of Mediterranean countries. Its specific objectives are to develop and test new and innovative, but simple and affordable, technical hardware and software concepts for irrigation under deficit, at farms in a large variety of set-ups and constraints. The developed concepts will be evaluated in four test-sites, located in Italy, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, where the large future market for deficit irrigation systems will be. This project integrates innovative sensor technologies into a decision support system for irrigation management. Results achieved in the 2nd year of the project:

Dielectric Tensiometer: Prototypes of dielectric tensiometer sensors (Delta-T) have been produced and tested both in the lab and in a greenhouse (cucumber) at the Turkey test site (Izmir).

Wireless Sensor Network: Based upon experience of the 1st year experiment the 8 Wireless Sensor Nodes (Mesh-Star network, SOWNET) with soil moisture sensors were modified to have a higher signal strength and a more robust housing.  Another set with a solar power system (Mesh-type) WSN was obtained from Crossbow Systems and equipped with Watermark sensors. Both systems were tested for functionality and next installed for practical evaluation at the Pistoia test-site in Italy.
 

Crop planning and farm zoning tool: The first version of the web-based tool of MOPECO-FLOW was developed. Two new modules were added ensuring a wider range of scenarios that can be simulated. Now the model can simulate effects on water use and crop yield due to non-uniformity of the irrigation systems as well as the use of salt irrigation water.

Crop response model:A draft version of the database (EXCEL based) was presented before the growing season. Based upon this, a first version executable database was developed using Microsoft Visual Basic with ActiveX Objects. The crop response database now contains quantitative information on the response to water and/or salinity stress for 20 selected crops. A user may retrieve, edit, extend and export data from the database with the newprogram.

Irrigation scheduler DSS: A central database, accessible through internet, has been established. This database, hosting actual and local measured soil and climate data, is up and running and has been successfully used by all partners using a “Data Upload Facility”.

Pressurized versus surface irrigation: During the 2008 growing season a test was performed with two irrigation controllers and soil water content sensors (GP1 and SM200, Delta-T Devices) in a greenhouse using micro-sprayers for pot-grown ornamental plants in the winter season, and with field-grown egg-plants using drip-irrigation in the summer season. The tests showed a “proof of concept” and viability of a low-cost simplified automated irrigation system. The next year a calibration of this irrigation controller concept will be performed again in a greenhouse and in a field trial on other drip-irrigated vegetable crops.

Dual water quality irrigation: Two field experiments with a drip-irrigated tomato crop were conducted at the Jordan test-site in spring/summer 2008. In each experiment four treatments with four replicas were performed by making combinations from “fresh or treated water” and “full or deficit irrigation”. Soil moisture status (WET-sensor), climate conditions as well as all relevant crop parameters were monitored (yield). The treatments were controlled by using the sensor activated (SM200) irrigation controllers (GP1).

Own wells with leaching limitations: In a polyethylene greenhouse with cucumber, two irrigation experiments were conducted in spring/summer at a farmer site in Yeniköy-Menderes near Izmir (Turkey). The main goal was to prevent leaching and reduce the use of water.

Container crops with limited and dual water supply: Analyses of data from the first year experiment at Cespevi (Pistoia, Italy) was concluded including a simulation of water use efficiency of container cultivations irrigated with a timer, a crop ET model or with soil moisture sensors. During summer an irrigation/fertigation experiment was conducted with the use of two water sources: ground water with low salinity and waste water with high salinity.

The final version of the Publishable Executive Summary including the list of dissemination activities and publications for the second year will soon be available. More info is available at the web-site of the project (www.flow-aid.eu).

SoilCAM: Soil Contamination: Advanced integrated characterisation and time-lapse Monitoring

This project is aimed at improving current methods for monitoring contaminant distribution and biodegradation in the subsurface. Currently proven methods (based on invasive sampling of soil, soil water and gaseous phase) are unable to provide sufficiently accurate data with high enough resolution. Resulting in inability to assess of bioremediation progress and quantification of the processes involved in such bioremediation at field sites. Consequently, present assessment strategies to decide on optimal remediation approach, including design of monitoring systems, and evaluation of degradation progress, are severely flawed by uncertainty. Geophysical time-lapse measurements in combination with novel ground truthing methods give the possibility to determine: absolute contamination levels, spatial spreading, and reduced concentrations of contaminants in a heterogeneous environment. Geophysical methods of data acquisition alone are presently unable to provide absolute levels of biodegradable contamination concentrations. We aim to make improvements of fundamental constitutive relations between soil physical and degradation activity parameters and geophysically measurable parameters. Despite current improvements, there is a strong need to test these theories in practical field situations. Our project is dedicated to improving both site contamination assessment and the monitoring of bioremediation processes, and changes in soil environmental conditions. We suggest combining improved conventional soil monitoring techniques with state-of-the-art geophysical approaches. Partners in the project range from microbiologists to geophysicist, all with working experience from contaminated sites. Process studies involving lysimeters, and testing of the combination of technologies at two field sites are the major aims of the project. Focus on practical field situations and strong communication with stake-holders and SMEs will ensure high relevance for society.

Participating institutions: The Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (NO); AMRA scarl (IT); Politecnico di Torino (IT); Wageningen University (NL); Friedrich-Schiiller-Universität, Jena (DE); Lancaster University (UK); The National Research-Development Institute for Environmental Protection – ICIM, Bucharest (RO); Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HU); Umweltanalytische Mess-Systeme GmbH (DE); IRIS Instruments (FR).

iSOIL: Interactions between soil related sciences - Linking geophysics, soil science and digital soil mapping

As formulated in the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection prepared by the European Commission soil degradation is a serious problem in Europe. The degradation is driven or exacerbated by human activity and has a direct impact on water and air quality, biodiversity, climate and human life-quality.  High-resolution soil property maps are one major prerequisite for the specific protection of soil functions and restoration of degraded soils as well as sustainable land use, water and environmental management. However, the currently available techniques for (digital) soil mapping still have deficiencies in terms of reliability and precision, the feasibility of investigation of large areas (e.g. catchments and landscapes) and the assessment of soil degradation threats at this scale. A further quandary is the insufficient degree of dissemination of knowledge between the scientific community, relevant authorities and prospective users and deficiencies in standardisation. The focus of the iSOIL project is on improving fast and reliable mapping of soil properties, soil functions and soil degradation threats. This requires the improvement as well as integration of geophysical and spectroscopic measurement techniques in combination with advanced soil sampling approaches, pedometrical and pedophysical approaches. An important aspect of the project is the sustainable dissemination of the technologies and concepts developed. For this purpose guidelines will be written and published. Furthermore, the results will be implemented in national and European soil databases. The present state of technologies and future perspectives will also be transferred to authorities, providers of technologies (SMEs), and end users through workshops at regional level, international conferences and publications throughout the duration of the project.
 

Participating institutions:  Helmholtz - Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH - UFZ (DE); Geophysical Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences BG, Allied Associates Geophysical Ltd. (UK); Allsat GmbH network+services (DE), Crop Research Institute (CZ); Czech University of Life Sciences of Prague (CZ); Eijkelkamp Agrisearch Equipment (NL); European Committee of Standardization (BE); Geo-Infometric GmbH DE, European Commission Joint Research Centre (IT); Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (DE); The Soil Company BV (NL); University of Bern (CH); University of Cranfield (UK); Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE); University of Padova (IT); University of Tübingen (DE); University of Wageningen, Alterra (NL); Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (AT).

W2Plastics: Magnetic Sorting and Ultrasound Sensor Technologies for Production of High Purity Secondary Polyolefins from Waste

The European consumption of plastics increased from 24,6 Mtons in 1993 to 39,7 Mtons in 2003 and its growth rate exceeds that of the economy as a whole. At the same time, polymer recyclers and manufacturing industries have a problem buying feed materials and secondary polymers of sufficient volume and quality, as a result of the pull of China and India on all raw material resources. The alternative of using more primary plastics has a range of environmental impacts and needs more resources (about two kg oil for one kg plastic). The polymer resources in complex wastes, such as WEEE, household waste and ASR (ACEA: 7.5 million tons of shredder residue in the EU17 in 2002), are largely unused, because of the problem to produce high-purity products from such sources at acceptable costs. Today just one million out of 14 million ton polyolefin’s yearly sold in Europe is being recycled. W2Plastics aims to develop cost-effective and clean technology based on Magnetic Density Separation (MDS) and Ultrasound process control to recover high-purity polyolefin’s from complex wastes. A substantial effort is spent on making the new technologies fit in between the state-of-the-art technology of waste processors and the demands of the compounding and manufacturing industries by defining standards and best practices as well as effective quality-control tools (hyperspectral imaging). The integrated set of technologies and standards aims at changing the status of complex wastes to a resource of high-purity polyolefin’s for a wide range of industries. The development of such technology is in line with the European legislation (COM/2001/0031, 99/31/EC, 2000/53/EC, 2002/96/EC, 2003/108/EC) aiming at fostering the development environmental friendly technologies to reduce the environmental impact of human activities, to protect the environment, to minimize depletion of resources and to promote at the same time) business opportunities and improved competitiveness of European industry and SMEs.

Participating institutions:  Delft University of Technology (NL); Università di Roma (IT); Technical University of Denmark (DK); Universitatea Transilvania din Brasov (RO); Barcelona Supercomputing Center (ES); Budapest University of Technology and Economics - Advanced Vehicles and Vehicle Control Knowledge Center (HU); AKG Polymers bv (NL); Bakker Magnetics B.V. (NL);  Recycling Avenue vof (NL); Alcufer Ipari Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Kft. (HU); S.C. Urban S.A. Ramnicu Valcea (RO); Oldelft BV (NL); DV srl (IT).

LoRe-LCA: Low Resource consumption buildings and constructions by use of LCA in design and decision making

LoRe-LCA aims to coordinate activities regarding the application of LCA in the European construction sector, focusing on comparing and improving the functional units used for LCA for whole buildings, improving the possibilities to compare results for different alternatives during design stage, and for comparison of results for different buildings. The project focuses on harmonisation and use of LCA-methods in design and decision-making for reaching overall goals of reduced resource consumption. The main objectives are: (i) Analyse the potential and restrictions of the European building regulations framework to influence the resource consumption in construction, and to derive policy recommendations on energy, pollution prevention, landfill, waste, etc; (ii) Collect and compare assessment methods of environmental performance used in different countries, with emphasis on LCA methods, to facilitate meaningful evaluation and communication to stakeholders including the public; (iii) Support the standardisation activities of CEN TC350 and other initiatives by taking into account the different approaches and local specificities which exist and provide input to European harmonisation activities; (iv) Encourage the use of LCA methodologies by dissemination to the relevant actors in the design and construction process; (v) Resolve methodological problems related to the scope and limits of the system under study by defining needs and objectives of different user groups, hereunder defining functional units and performance indicators, for instance for health and indoor climate, to ensure comparability; (vi) Facilitate comparisons and scenarios to improve decision making at the design stage and provide guidelines on the use of benchmarking data; (vii) Establish best practices for use of LCA in design and decision, analysing case studies and looking at products and the building/construction as a whole; (viii) Implement the use of open standards to facilitate use of LCA tools in design.

Participating institutions:  Stiftelsen for industriell og teknisk forskning ved Norges tekniske høgskole (NO); Association pour la Recherche et le Développement des Méthodes et Processus Industriels (FR); Fundación CIRCE - Centro de Investigación de Recursos y Consumos Energéticos (ES); Interdisziplinäres Forschungszentrum für Technik, Arbeit und Kultur (AT); Sofia Energy Centre (BG); EMI Non-profit Company for Quality Control and Innovation in Building (HU); Ecofys Netherlands B.V. (NL).

ISSOWAMA: Integrated Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Asia

The general inadequate, when existing, methods of collection and disposal of solid waste in most Asian cities are causing important environmental and social harms, as human diseases spreading, environmental pollution and ground and water pollution. In order to raise awareness, promote an adequate waste collection and treatment system and the economic growth of this activity sector in a technological efficient and sustainable way, new waste management systems must be established which also take into account the informal sector. This integrated approach should comprise technical, environmental, legal, socio-economic and financial aspects, involving the key actors at different levels to ensure an effective implementation. The proposed project aims to bring together experts and stakeholders in the field of solid waste management in Asian developing countries and Europe. The project will promote international cooperation between research organisations, universities, and social and governmental stakeholders in a European and Asian context (local waste processors, local municipalities and policy makers, local NGOs representatives, etc). A solid waste management expert and research co-ordination platform, and an expertise network, will be established in order to co-ordinate, assess and guide suitable research and strategic activities with the aim of identifying aspects like cost-effective treatment and sorting technologies, environmental impacts, gaps in technical knowledge and socio-economic and policy barriers to further execution. The network will also propose directions for futures research and for local implementation. The general aim of the proposed network will be to develop a variety of innovative, adaptable and replicable approaches to a more efficient solid waste management, integrating appropriate low-cost and efficient technologies with community-based management and their relevant governance, institutional frameworks and socio-economic constraints.

Participating institutions:  Verein zur Förderung des Technologietransfers an der Hochschule Bremerhaven e. V. (DE); Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz (CH);  Wageningen University (NL); Stichting Waste (NL); Bioazul S.L. (ES); Winrock International India (IN); The Energy and Resources Institute (IN); Anna University (IN); National Engineering Services Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. (PK); Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) (BD); Dhaka City Corporation (BD); Tsinghua University (CN); China Association of Environmental Protection Industries (CN); King Mongkut´s University of Technology Thonburi (TH); Asian Institute of Technology (TH); Center for Environmental Technology and Management (VN);  Phnom Penh Municipality (KH); Royal University of Phnom Penh (KH); Demographic Institute at the Faculty of Economics University of Indonesia (ID); Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (PH); School of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Philippines (PH); International Solid Waste Association (DK); Construction and Development Corporation (PH); ZKK Foundation, Inc. (PH).

PERFECTION: Performance Indicators for Health, Comfort and Safety of the Indoor Environment

The aim of PERFECTION is to help enable the application of new building design and technologies that improve the impact of the indoor built environment on health, comfort, feeling of safety and positive stimulation. The project concept consists of the following components: (i) the inventory of current standards, regulations, technologies and ongoing and recent research activities and policies related with optimal indoor environment; (ii) analysis of current indoor performance indicators and their applicability positioned within a generic framework, and identifying areas where new indicators for health and safety should be developed; (iii) experiences from use cases of building design and technologies exploiting the indicators in different building types; (iv) development of a decision support tool to guide the use of correct indicators for a given context; (v) identification of incentives and barriers for the wide use of performance indicators; (vi) a roadmap and recommendations for building design and technologies, and support for policies; (vii) a wide dissemination of findings through an extensive expert network. The project is carried out at an EU scale and the project results will reach every EU country. More than 40 experts from over 30 countries and representing industry, academia and research were carefully selected to the PERFECTION team to ensure the needed depth and width. The network consists of experts from various domains that are in the focus of the call, such as indoor health issues, acoustics, universal design, performance metrics and tools, sustainable design and construction, etc. The PERFECTION project will organize 5 events all across Europe and will produce a quality publication - showcase of a number of case studies across all EU-27 countries, whereby the impact of innovative and well defined technologies as well as policies on specific buildings will be presented in a user friendly way.

Participating institutions:  Belgian Building Reseach Institute (BE); Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus (FI); Apintech Ltd (EL); Czech Technical University in Prague (CZ); Association pour la Recherche et le Développement des Méthodes et Processus Industriels (FR);  Bauphysikbüro Prof. Kornadt und Partner (DE); Interdisciplinary Center for Technological Analysis and Forecasting (IL); Istituto Superiore sui Sistemi Territoriali per l'Innovazione (IT); Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (NL); ASM Centrum Badan i Analiz Rynku sp. Z O.O. (PL); Building Research Establishment (UK).

Participating institutions:  AWI DE, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (IT); University of Kalmar (SE); Instituto Español de Oceanografía (ES); National University of Ireland, Galway (IE); University of Oslo (NO); University of Westminster (UK); Toxispot A/S (DK); Instituto Tecnolóxico para o Control do Medio Mariño de Galicia (ES); University of Rhode Island (US).
 

CADASTER: CAse studies on the Development and Application of in-Silico Techniques for Environmental hazard and Risk assessment

The CADASTER project includes 9 partners from Universities and industry and addresses issues linked to the implementation of the REACH Regulation. The industry requires to demonstrate the safety of manufacturing and use of 30 000 existing substances before 2018, therefore fast and efficient strategies for the toxicological assessment of chemicals are required. Testing (minimising the use of animals) and non-testing methods are needed with appropriate guidance for the industry and the regulators to ensure a coherent approach. Intelligent Testing Strategies for regulatory endpoints are proposed to facilitate the assessments, including chemical and biological read-across, in vitro results, in vivo information on analogues, in addition to in silico techniques such as qualitative structure-activity relationships and exposure-based waiving.

CADASTER aims at providing the practical guidance to integrated risk assessment by carrying out a full hazard and risk assessment on four classes of emerging compounds that may pose a threat to man or the environment: Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDE); perfluoroalkylated substances; substituted fragrances and (benzo)triazoles. A Decision Support System (DSS) will be developed and  regularly updated in order to accommodate and integrate alternative methods. Operational procedures will be developed, tested and disseminated for the evaluation of the 4 classes of chemicals, explicitly taking account of the variability and uncertainty in data and models. CADASTER will increase the use of non-testing information for regulatory decision whilst quantifying and reducing uncertainty. It will exemplify the integration of information, models and strategies for carrying out safety-, hazard- and risk assessments for large numbers of substances. Real risk estimates will be delivered according to the REACH recommendation of minimizing animal testing, costs and time.

 Participating institutions: National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (NL), Public Health Institute Maribor (SI), Universita' degli Studi dell'Insubria (IT), IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ab (SE), Högskolan i Kalmar (University of Kalmar) (SE), GSF - Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, GmbH (DE), Ideaconsult Ltd. (BG), Radboud University Nijmegen (NL), Mike Comber Consultancy (BE).

HydroNet: Floating Sensorised Networked Robots for Water Monitoring

Water is one of our most precious and valuable resources. It is important to determine how to fairly use, protect and preserve water. New strategies and new technologies are needed to assess the chemical and ecological status of water bodies and to improve the water quality and quantity. The relatively recent progress in micro-electronics and micro-fabrication technologies has allowed a miniaturization of sensors and devices, opening a series of new exciting possibilities for water monitoring.

Moreover, robotics and advanced ICTbased technology can dramatically improve detection and prediction of risk/crisis situations, providing new tools for the global management of the water resources. The HydroNet proposal is aimed at designing, developing and testing a new technological platform for improving the monitoring of water bodies based on a network of autonomous, floating and sensorised mini-robots, embedded in an Ambient Intelligence infrastructure. Chemo- and bio-sensors, embedded in the mobile robots will be developed and used for monitoring in real time physical parameters and pollutants in water bodies. Enhanced mathematical models will be developed for simulating the pollutants transport and processes in rivers, lakes and sea. The unmanaged, self-assembling and self-powered wireless infrastructure, with an everdecreasing cost per unit, will really support decisional bodies and system integrators in managing water bodies resources. The robots and sensors will be part of an Ambient Intelligence platform, which will integrate not only sensors for water monitoring and robot tasks execution, but also communications backhaul systems, databases technologies, knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) processes for extracting and increasing knowledge on water management. Following the computation on stored data, feedback will be sent back to human actors (supervisors, decision makers, industrial people, etc.) and/or artificial actuators, in order to perform actions.

Participating institutions:   Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (IT); Synapsis - Societa' a Responsabilita' Limitata (IT); University of Science of Central Switzerland, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture (CH); Jožef Stefan Institute (SI); Lumex-marketing JSC (RU); Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning (NO); Univerza v Ljubljani (SI); The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL); Inštitut za fizikalno biologijo d.o.o. (SI);  RoboTech srl (IT).

DIGISOIL:  Integrated system of data collection technologies for mapping soil properties

The multidisciplinary DIGISOIL consortium intends to integrate and improve in situ and proximal measurement technologies for the assessment of soil properties assessment and soil degradation indicators, going from the sensing technologies to their integration and their application in (digital) soil mapping (DSM). In addition, our SMEs experience will allow to take into account the feasibility of such developments based on economical constraints, reliability of the results and needs of the DSM community. In order to assess and prevent soil degradation and to benefit from the different ecological, economical and historical functions of the soil in a sustainable way, there is an obvious need for high resolution and accurate maps of soil properties. The core objective of the project is to explore and exploit new capabilities of advanced geophysical technologies for answering this societal demand. To this aim, DIGISOIL addresses four issues covering technological, soil science and economic aspects: (i) the validation of geophysical (in situ, proximal and airborne) technologies and integrated pedo-geophysical inversion techniques (mechanistic data fusion) (ii) the relation between the geophysical parameters and the soil properties, (iii) the integration of the derived soil properties for mapping soil functions and soil threats, (iv) the evaluation, standardisation and sub-industrialization of the proposed methodologies, including technical and economical studies.

Participating institutions: BRGM (FR), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (FR), University Catholique de Louvain (BE), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (DE), DG Joint Research Centre (IT), Geological Institute of Romania (RO), University of Pannonia (HU), ABEM Instrument AB (SE), Galileo Avionica SpA (IT), Università degli Studi di Firenze (IT).

IsoSoil:  Contaminant-specific isotope analyses as sharp environmental-forensics tools for site characterisation, monitoring and source apportionment of pollutants in soil

Conventional remediation-monitoring programmes, i.e. analysis of contaminant and metabolite concentrations over time and space, often provide inconclusive assessments due to inability to resolve among mixing of several contaminant sources, degradation, dispersion and other redistribution processes. The isoSoil objective is to firmly establish concentration-independent contaminant-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) as a novel, user-friendly and powerful tool for both degradation monitoring and source apportionment of organic contaminants in soil. The balanced isoSoil consortium with world-leading CSIA research groups, progressive remediation-focused and analytical services companies and experienced software enterprises will enable (i) applications of multiple CSIA systems (13C/12C, 2H/1H, 15N/14N and 37Cl/35Cl) for improved site-specific characterization and monitoring of microbial and abiotic degradation; (ii) applications of CSIA “isotopic fingerprinting” (14C/12C, 2H/1H, 37Cl/35Cl, and 81Br/79Br) for source apportionment of both regional diffuse and locally mixed contamination scenarios (i.e., environmental forensics) and (iii) emphasis on development and demonstration of web-based commercial software to aid soil managers in sampling and interpretation of CSIA results. The CSIA concept provides a well-defined and improved tool to for assessment and monitoring of the 3.5 mill contaminated soil sites in EU. Application of multi-element CSIA enables enhanced power to resolve between the many co-occurring processes. CSIA-based DEGRADATION MONITORING answers to Call Topic “improved tools for site characterization and monitoring of contaminated soils including chemical analysis”. CSIA-based SOURCE APPORTIONMENT answers to Call Topic “development of tools for detection of local, primary, or secondary sources”.

Participating institutions: ALS SCANDINAVIA AB (SE), HELLENIC CENTRE FOR MARINE RESEARCH (GR), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (CH), Masarykova univerzita (CZ), EARTH TECH CZ SRO (CZ), POLITECHNIKA LODZKA (PL), UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL (UK), FQS POLAND SP. Z O.O. (PL), MakoLab S.A. (PL), IVL SVENSKA MILJOEINSTITUTET AB (SE).

AquaFit4Use:  Water in Industry, Fit-for-Use Sustainable Water Use in Chemical, Paper, Textile and Food Industry

Sustainable water use in industry is the goal of AquaFit4Use, by a cross-sectorial, integrated approach. The overall objectives are: the development and implementation of new, reliable, cost-effective technologies, tools and methods for sustainable water supply, use and discharge in the main water consuming industries in order to significantly reduce water use, mitigate environmental impact and produce and apply water qualities in accordance with industrial own specifications (fit - for - use) from all possible sources, and contributing to a fargoing closure of the water cycle in a economical, sustainable and safe way while improving their product quality and process stability. The 4 pillars of the project are Industrial Water Fit-for-use, Integrated water resource management, Strong industrial participation and Cross-sectorial technologies and approach. Water fit-for-use is the basis for sustainable water use; the integrated approach a must. Tools will be developed to define and control water quality.

The heart of AquaFit4Use however is the development of new cross-sectorial technologies, with a focus at biofouling and scaling prevention, the treatment of saline streams, disinfection and the removal of specific substances. By intensive co-operation between the industries, the knowledge and the technologies developed in this project will be broadly transferred and implemented. This AquaFit4Use project is based on the work of the Working group 'Water in Industry' of the EU Water Platform WSSTP; 40 % of the project partners of AquaFit4Use were involved in this working group. The expected impacts of AquaFit4Use are: A substantial reduction of fresh water needs (20 to 60%) and effluent discharge of industries; integrating process technologies for further closing the water cycles; Improved process stability and product quality in the different sectors and strengthening the competitiveness of the European Water Industry.

Participating institutions: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast - Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO (NL), Papiertechnische Stiftung (DE), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES), Flemish Institute for Technological Research (BE), Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Tecnicas de Gipuzkoa (ES), VEOLIA Environnement (FR), Univerza v Maribor, Fakulteta za strojništvo (SI), Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie l'Energia e l'Ambiente (IT), Holmen Paper (SE), Nestle Waters Management and Technology (FR), Perstorp Specialty Chemicals AB (SE), DHI (DK), Conservas Hijos de Manuel Sánchez Besarte S.A. (ES), Asistencia Tecnológica Medioambiental S.A. (ES), sappi Maastricht B.V. (NL), Delta NV (NL), TNO (PT), Unilever Research and Development Vlaardingen B.V. (NL), Vermicon (DE), EnviroChemia Polska sp.zo.o. (PL), Wedeco GmbH (DE), MOSTforWATER (BE), BASF Antwerpen NV (BE), Tekstina d.d., Tekstilna industrija Ajdovšcina (SI), Svilanit, d.d. (SI), Aquatest a.s. CZ, Alpro UK Ltd (UK), Smurfit Kappa C.D. Haupt Papier- und Pappenfabrik GmbH & Co.KG (DE).

ModelPROBE:  Model driven Soil Probing, Site Assessment and Evaluation

Conventional techniques for site characterization are time consuming, cost intensive, and do not support decision making. Therefore, new techniques for step by step site characterization strategy with smart feed back loops are necessary. These will be able to support a future “soil framework directive”. Advanced geophysical site characterization techniques combined with new types of vegetation analysis will be developed. Based on these non-invasive surveys, the extension of sources, contamination levels (THP, BTEX, PAH, CHC, explosives, heavy metals and radio nuclides) and soil heterogeneities will be localized first. Hot spots will then be investigated by new direct push probing systems integrated with geophysical & hydrogeological methods and combined with chemical & isotopic contaminant analysis for source localization and identification (environmental forensics). The actually occurring bioprocesses, such as contaminant degradation or precipitation/mobilization processes, will be assessed using biosensors, in situ microcosms, and stable isotope and biomarker analysis. These new techniques and tools will be evaluated against best practice of conventional methods. Therefore, they will be applied at fully equipped and characterized European reference sites available in the project and will be provided to consultants and SME´s for application. Integrated statistical analysis and modelling at different stages of the step by step approach will result in an improved view of soil and subsurface contamination and will provide a sound basis for risk assessment and decision.

Participating institutions: Helmholtz - Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH - UFZ (DE), Università degli Studi di Padova (IT), Battelle Memorial Institute (CH), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IT), Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DK), Earth Tech CZ s.r.o. (CZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (DE), Lancaster University (UK), Aarhus Universitet (DK), Queens University Belfast, School of Planning (UK), Université catholique de Louvain (BE), La Sapienza Università di Roma CERI (IT), Saint-Petersburg State University (RU), CREATEC (IT), Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE).

DIGISOIL:  Integrated system of data collection technologies for mapping soil properties

The multidisciplinary DIGISOIL consortium intends to integrate and improve in situ and proximal measurement technologies for the assessment of soil properties assessment and soil degradation indicators, going from the sensing technologies to their integration and their application in (digital) soil mapping (DSM). In addition, our SMEs experience will allow to take into account the feasibility of such developments based on economical constraints, reliability of the results and needs of the DSM community. In order to assess and prevent soil degradation and to benefit from the different ecological, economical and historical functions of the soil in a sustainable way, there is an obvious need for high resolution and accurate maps of soil properties. The core objective of the project is to explore and exploit new capabilities of advanced geophysical technologies for answering this societal demand. To this aim, DIGISOIL addresses four issues covering technological, soil science and economic aspects: (i) the validation of geophysical (in situ, proximal and airborne) technologies and integrated pedogeophysical inversion techniques (mechanistic data fusion) (ii) the relation between the geophysical parameters and the soil properties, (iii) the integration of the derived soil properties for mapping soil functions and soil threats, (iv) the evaluation, standardisation and sub-industrialization of the proposed methodologies, including technical and economical studies.

Participating institutions: BRGM (FR), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (FR), University Catholique de Louvain (BE), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (DE), DG Joint Research Centre (IT), Geological Institute of Romania (RO), University of Pannonia (HU), ABEM Instrument AB (SE), Galileo Avionica SpA (IT), Università degli Studi di Firenze (IT).

SORT IT:  Recovered Paper Sorting with Innovative Technologies

SORT IT is a European research project proposing to the call “New Technologies for Waste Sorting” in the 7th Research Framework Programme of the European Union. The project will provide the technology for paper recovery from various collection systems. Future sorting shall provide secondary raw materials with high yield and quality from unsorted waste streams as well as from separately collected streams. SORT IT will provide a breakthrough in sensor based sorting. New sensor technologies will allow improved identification of unwanted materials as well as characterisation of the final output from recovered paper sorting. Combined image analysis, colour measurement and near-infrared sensor units will enable secure identification of materials and paper converting. Chemometrics will allow detailed characterisation of the sorted raw materials and provide the information on the optimal future utilisation. SORT IT includes the research and development on improved separation of unwanted materials. State-of-the-art sorting equipment as well as new and improved solutions will be assessed for establishing the highest possible sorting efficiency. This will lead to significant increase in yield and a further improved purity of recovered paper. SORT IT contributes to lowering the environmental impacts in paper related processes. Improved quantities and controlled quality of recovered paper will reduce resource use in transportation, stock preparation, papermaking and further processing. The impacts of sorting will be evaluated in a complete Life Cycle study package, including costing and social studies.

Participating institutions: Papiertechnische Stiftung (DE), Centre Technique de l'Industrie des Papiers, Cartons et Celluloses (FR), STFI-Packforsk AB (SE), Universitatea Tehnica “Gheorghe Asachi” din Iasi (RO), Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje Transporte y Logística (ES), Bumaga BV (NL),Bollegraaf Recycling Machinery (NL), EVK DI Kerschhaggl GmbH (AT), Rauch Recycling Dienstleistungs GmbH (AT), Vrancart S.A. Adjud (RO), GREGOIRE SA (FR), Norske Skog (NO), RTT Systemtechnik GmbH (DE), Papeles y Cartones de Europa S.A. (ES). 

POPART:  Strategy for the preservation of plastic artefacts in museum collections

During the twentieth century artists have used plastics and synthetics to create important pieces that are recognized nowadays as masterpieces. Unfortunately some plastics are degrading faster than had been expected and their preservation constitutes a challenge. Their is a lack of knowledge and agreement about the way we can exhibit, clean and store them in order to lower their deterioration speed. The focus of this project will be on art museum collections created with synthetic polymers (typically cellulose nitrate and acetates, poly (vinyl chloride), poly (methyl metacrylate) with a special interest into polyurethanes objects or coatings) and will focus on three dimensional objects as these frequently exhibit physical degradation. The objective is to develop a European wide accepted strategy that improves preservation and maintenance of plastic objects in museum collections. Based on scientific studies and experiences gathered from partners, it is proposed to evaluate and establish recommended practices and risk associated for exhibiting, cleaning and storing these artefacts.

Participating institutions: Centre National de la Recherche scientifique ile-de-France Est CNRS (FR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Victoria and Albert Museum (UK), National Museum of Denmark (DK), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IT), Instituut Collectie Nederland (NL), Polymer Institute (SK), IoSys - Dr. Timur Seidel e.K. (DE), ARC-Nucleart (FR), SolMateS (BV), The Netherlands (NL), Morana RTD d.o.o. (SI), University of Ljubljana (SI).

TeACH:  Technologies and Tools to prioritize assessment and diagnosis of air pollution impact on immovable and movable Cultural Heritage

Most buildings of cultural/historical interest are located in urban environments. They undergo a number of different external forcings, which need to be addressed separately. It is important to consider local-scale variations of the urban environment, such as changes in pollutants, temperature field, relative humidity cycles, wind field, urban heat island effect etc. The most important challenge at the present time is to understand the different types of damage to cultural heritage that environmental changes will cause. In fact, the available scenarios of multi-pollutants trends in Europe and the world indicate that the effects of industrial, civil and transport emissions on corrosion and soiling will constitute a serious threat to cultural heritage. Such effects require improved methods of quantification to arrive at a more accurate damage assessment, diagnosis and monitoring of the movable and immovable cultural heritage. The high costs of preventive conservation and maintenance of the built cultural environment urgently impose the prioritization of air pollution monitoring in order to ensure a sustainable protection. For the purpose of attaining these goals, ad hoc devices and tools are necessary to identify and monitor the changing damage processes affecting immovable and moveable cultural heritage. This will be reached with TeACH developing its objectives. Among these, the main ones are: identify the multi-pollutants and prioritize the principal ones; Identify ways of improving the more reliable and efficient among existing technologies and tools, developing new devices and tools, particularly a new a compact and economical kit of instruments; deliver guidelines for the future prioritization of air pollution and disseminate the results.

Participating institutions: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IT), Istituto Cooperativo per l’Innovazione (IT), Tecno Penta (IT), Fundación Labein (ES), Acciona Infraestructuras, S.A. (ES), University of Antwerp (BE), Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NO), Belhadj Enterprise (DZ), University of Ljubljana (SI), Metropolitankapitel der Hohen Domkirche Köln - Dombauverwaltung (DE), National Museum in Krakow (PL).

SMooHS:  Smart Monitoring of Historic Structures

Historic structures are often of extraordinary architecture, design or material. The conservation of such structures for next generations of European population is one of the main tasks, monument conservators are responsible for. To conserve historic structures it is more and more required to understand the deterioration processes mainly caused by the environment. To obtain more detailed information about the deterioration processes in certain cases continuous monitoring systems have been installed. However, most of these monitoring systems were just weather or air pollution data acquisition systems and just basic models for data analysis are used. The real influence of the environment to the structure or the structural material is often unaccounted for. That means that the structural resistance is just calculated from the measurements and not determined by sufficient sensors. Another aspect is the fact that most monitoring systems require cabling, which is neither aesthetically appealing nor in some cases applicable due to the needed fastening techniques. The proposed project aims at the development of competitive and smart monitoring systems using wireless sensor networks, new miniature sensor technologies (e.g. MEMS) for minimally invasive installation as well as smart data processing. With using these new technologies advanced material and lifetime prognosis models have to be developed or known models have to be extended. Comparative tests will be conducted to validate the models as well as the monitoring data, which is acquired during several case studies. The results of the project will be summarized in a toolbox and a guideline, which will be disseminated at special trainings organized for restorer, owner of cultural heritage and public authorities.

 Participating institutions: Universitaet Stuttgart (DE), Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Restauratoren Bärbel Dieruff und Karl Fiedler (DE), Universitaet Stuttgart (DE), Europäische Akademie Bozen / Accademia Europea Bolzano (IT), Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna (IT), National Museums Berlin DE, Instytut Katalizy i Fizykochemii Powierzchni Polskiej Akademii Nauk PL, Käferhaus GmbH (AT),  TTI GmbH - TGU Smartmote (DE), METALMOBILE S.R.L. (IT), Artemis srl, c/o Dipartimento Architettura, DACS Università Politecnica delle Marche, Costruzioni e Strutture  (IT), Consorzio Cetma (IT), Riwaq - Centre for architectural conservation (IL), University of Zagreb, Faculty of Civil Engineering HR, Department of Antiquities (JO).

Environmental Technologies. European Environment Agency, Denmark:                                    http://technologies.ew.eea.europa.eu/

Green Pages - The Global Directory for Environmental Technology:                                         http://www.eco-web.com/

United Nations Environment Programme. International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC):  http://www.unep.or.jp/

Environmental Expert:                                                                                                     http://www.environmental-expert.com/index.aspx

Environmental Technology Opportunities Portal (ETOP):                                                        http://www.epa.gov/etop/index.html

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European Commission

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