Multi-cell aquifer model: 4Xcell

The 4Xcell model has been developed to assist the study of the hydrological basin of Viotikos Kifissos River. The main goal is neither to replace existing fully-distributed models that have been developed for the specific basin nor to bring new theoretical knowledge in the field of water modelling. The needs that this model would serve regard the water management in large hydrological units, through a combined use of surface and ground water data, resulting in predictions for the groundwater level and the availability of surface water. 

Description: Modelling the hydrological processes in a river basin, has been one of the main problems of hydrology. Several kinds of models have been developed. In this tool, the newly constructed semi-distributed model 4Xcell is presented, for the simultaneous simulation of evapotranspiration, runoff and karstic groundwater. It requires the subdivision of the area and the river κοίτη into sub-regions, a more or less continuous aquifer for the simulation of which quadruple cells are used. 4Xcell is accommodated in the very user-friendly environment of MS Excel®, it is calibrated by means of the advanced edition of the built-in Solver and the results include artificial time series for the aquifer water-levels, the groundwater storage, the actual evapotranspiration and the total runoff at the Karditsa outlet. It can be used on day, month or year basis.
4Xcell has been applied to the basin of Viotikos Kifissos in Central Hellas. It was calibrated for a five year period, due to lack of longer time-series, and verified for several other five-year periods. The results of the calibration show that the model is set on a very realistic platform, and that with more complete input data, great accuracy can be achieved. The results of the model verification, emphasize latter, as well as the need for long period calibration.
The model is constructed in the MSExcel® environment, which is user-friendly, and it does not make use of any VBA program or routine. Thus, it responds very quickly to any change of data or equation. The equations are being solved by means of an explicit method with a time step of a tenth of a month (almost 3 days). The calibration uses a combination of the “trial and error” method with the Excel® Solver, for the minimization of the objective function.

[source: http://www.rypos.gr/writings.html]

Our new company

This is our very first post on our website blog. Our intention is to share a few words about our company Green2Sustain and our three pylons: environment, sustainability and competitiveness.

Competitiveness: EU and other grants and sources of funding are highly competitive. Our experience in the value chain, from idea development to proposal and project management, assist our clients in getting successful results.

Green2Sustain partners provide tools, solutions and best practices for cultivating innovative ideas, matching them with EU and other funding mechanisms objectives and help you write winning proposals, working either as your partner or as your consultants.

Sustainability: Green2Sustain partners can help you improve, change and technically progress to facilitate environmentally, socially and economically sustainable business conduct, through services that propel the sustainable management of water resources, waste, energy, natural environment and raw materials.

Green2Sustain partners are experts in assessing the economic impacts of any environmental change, reflecting the footprint of activities and investments from a socio-economic point of view, leading towards sustainable management of environment, society and economy as a whole.

Environment: Green2Sustain partners have more than 15 consequent years of professional experience in environmental management, environmental monitoring, environmental data analysis, ecosystems status assessment and in environmental impacts of activities of great local, regional or national importance.

Our partners are experienced in managing all individual environmental sectors (water, soil, air, manmade environment, waste, flora/fauna etc.), and we devote the necessary and appropriate human resources to any environmental problem, providing reliable and innovative solutions.

environment: investments & real estate

Real estate investments for us are a long cycle, which includes:

Buying and selling a property: our team undertakes the Due Diligence on the environmental and technical aspects of the property, on the part of the seller or buyer.

Development of the investment: we participate in the planning by identifying the environmental commitments and the necessary climate change adaptation measures, with the aim of creating value for the property. At the same time, we have experience in feasibility studies and cost-benefit studies, through which we compare scenarios and propose the most advantageous alternatives.

Licensing of the investment: we cover all aspects of licensing, with an emphasis on environmental licensing. We prepare and monitor the licensing files (building permit, installation permit, etc.) and ensure that the schedules are met.

Construction & operation of the investment: During construction, we support investors to ensure compliance with environmental conditions and compliance of contractors and technical projects. During operation, we support management in formulating a sustainability policy, we inspect the facilities and we ensure compliance and adherence to the strategy.

Closure of the investment: During this phase, we make sure that the rules of safe decommissioning are applied, and we indicate technical solutions for the protection of the environment and the assets of the investment.

Preparation for new use: We inspect the properties, check for residual pollution, draw up remediation and restoration plans. In parallel, we supervise any decontamination works until the property is delivered ready for the next transaction.

environment & sustainability

We turn the need for continuous growth into a corporate sustainability strategy, supporting you in the battle to ensure:

Profitability, through increasing the awareness of products and services

Cost reduction, through better management of resources (human, natural, cultural, etc.)

Satisfaction of all parties involved in your activity

Compliance with laws, guidelines, and regulations

Better control, both internally and externally

As part of our Sustainability Analysis and Report, we help you implement international standards and protocols:

ESRS: The new generation of European sustainability standards, which ensures that you only present the essential aspects of your business, saving human and financial resources

ISO 26000: the standard that gives you directions on the issues that should matter to you

UN Global Compact: The Basic Principles of Sustainable Entrepreneurship proposed by the United Nations

We undertake to organize the team that will deal with the annual Sustainability Report in your business or to do the Report for you, so that you can save resources.

The advantages of developing a Sustainability Strategy, as well as the experience of our partners in social and environmental analysis, can be an important lever for cooperation and mutual support.

landscape architecture

We provide architect, agronomist and geotechnical engineering services to support the configuration of the external environment of your investment or your clients’.

Our experience in rainwater, soil and wastewater management is the background on which we will design the infrastructure you need for the organization of the landscape, from the level of the simple property with a garden, to the level of the strategic investment with natural landscaping.

We have extensive experience in difficult cases such as:
Phytopathological studies for cultivated and forest areas (private forests).

Soil Quality Assessment and Crop Advisory

Integrated green masterplans for urban areas

Landscape impact assessment with visual nuisance studies for projects and activities

In addition, we prepare phytotechnical studies for the reuse of reclaimed water from wastewater treatment in urban and tourist areas, while at the same time we design the appropriate hydraulic systems to support the landscape we create.

environmental licensing

We are willing and qualified to address the environmental impact of projects and activities, to indicate methods of environmental protection, so that you can reduce your environmental footprint.

We help you analyze your project or activity with the aim of:

License it environmentally

Modify or renew your license

Improve its environmental behavior

Save resources and money

We undertake on your behalf, in accordance with the instructions of the European Union and Greek legislation, to study, develop models, utilize scientific tools and manage:
water resources (surface, groundwater and marine waters)

natural environment (terrestrial and marine habitats, flora species, fauna and avifauna species)

wastewater and solid waste (characterization of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, design of treatment plants – waste management plans)

soil resources and sediments

air pollution from emissions from construction sites, transport projects and industrial activities

noise nuisance from construction sites and transport projects and disturbing activities

visual nuisance from interventions in the landscape and from various facilities and buildings.

The long-term experience of our partners, our realistic approach to financial costs, as well as the multitude of environmental objects we can cover, aspire to be important incentives for cooperation and mutual support.