http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:36:22 GMT 2026-04-11T13:36:22Z http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4730 Blue Carbon Stocks; Distribution, Threats, and Conservation in Sri Lanka; Insight Towards Climate Change Mitigation Gunathilaka, D.U.V.; Wijesundara, W.M.I.C.; Abeysinghe, N.K.; Ranawaka, D.P.D.; De Silva, P.M.C.S.; Madarasinghe, S.K.; Wijerathna, G.G.N.K.; Jayatissa, L.P.; Andrieu, J.; Kodikara, K.A.S. As a tropical island nation, Sri Lanka has a 1740 km coastal strip, dominated by mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows i.e., blue carbon ecosystems, that play a vital role in ecosystem functioning and services. These ecosystems have a high capacity for storing carbon within their ecosystem pools by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis and gained huge attention as the most carbon rich soil containing ecosystems in the world. The current study focuses on the gaps pertaining to blue carbon ecosystems including, total carbon stocks, challenges, and conservation prospects in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, a complete scientific survey to determine carbon stocks in all blue carbon ecosystems has not been carried out and only a limited number of studies have quantified the carbon sequestration in different mangrove areas in Sri Lanka. Studies on salt marshes and seagrass meadows were only directed towards distribution, species diversity or occurrence and also limited to fewer sites in the country. Thus, precise estimation of the total carbon stocks of the blue carbon ecosystems would be difficult without conducting proper scientific studies in salt marshes, seagrass meadows and mangrove areas. Moreover, the current study suggests seeking knowledge through estimating ecosystem values towards sustainable coastal management that could pave the pathway to conserve blue carbon ecosystems as a part of climate change mitigation. Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4730 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4729 Influence of Urban Design Interventions on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Tropical Cities; a Review Dissanayake, Clarence; Weerasinghe, Gamini Comfortable urban environments attract people to public spaces. Urban designers have a great responsibility of creating thermally acceptable outdoors enhancing walkability and livability. Since intense urbanization has a harmful effect on OTC, experts tend to find strategies for urban discomfort, especially in tropics. However, transforming the current urban design into a climatic responsive design is challenging. Therefore, this paper reviews the influence of urban design interventions on OTC and concludes with the best strategies. The methodology includes two stages; bibliometric search and comprehensive content analysis which is limited to studies with physical and physiological assessments. Four components have been identified affecting OTC namely; urban surfaces, morphology, green, and blue infrastructure. Urban morphology is the most determinant component affecting OTC while green infrastructure is the most efficient method of improving comfort. Deeper canyons and compacted urban forms are more comfortable than shallow and aspersed forms. Hard surface coverage, urban form, prevailing wind conditions, morphological characteristics of tree species, and scale of open space available should be considered in vegetation inclusion. Since the material albedo and orientations of surfaces affect ambient air temperature increase, a high percentage of natural or artificial shading should be provided to adjacent hard surfaces and it helps to improve OTC irrespective of the surface material type. As a strategy, water bodies must be carefully considered in warm-humid climates and compacted urban areas. However, local climate, functionality, feasibility, and user perceptions must be considered and context-specific investigations are recommended using reliable methods such as CFD modeling prior to decision making. Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4729 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4728 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in Precision Agriculture: Applications, challenges, and Future Perspectives Priyankara, Prabath; Perera, T.A.N.T.; Ruwanpathirana; Jayasinghe, G.Y.; Morinmoto, T. Precision Agriculture (PA) is being revolutionized by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which enable for more effective resource utilization. PA will reach every corner of Sri Lanka in the next years. As a result, the purpose of this research is to (a) categorize UAVs in agriculture based on their performance characteristics, and (b) examine future challenges and research opportunities that will lead to the long-term deployment of UAVs in PA. The types, applications, advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and potential dangers of using UAVs in PA were critically reviewed, examined, and evaluated using scholarly research articles, conference proceeding papers, and previously published literature from the past fifteen years, and information gaps were identified. UAVs have been classified based on their major performance parameters such as weight, endurance and range, altitude, wing loading, engine type, and power/thrust loading. UAVs are more appropriate in agricultural practices due to their high spatial resolution and fast turnaround capabilities, as well as their low operating costs and ease of use. Livestock and wildlife management, crop monitoring, chemical and fertilizer application, weed detection, field mapping, and soil condition assessment are the major applications of UAVs. Some of the primary constraints observed are the capture and availability of images on time, a lack of high spatial resolution images, challenges with image interpretation, and data extraction. Overall, UAVs are one of the most important technologies that transform traditional cultivation practices into a new perspective of intelligence in PA. Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4728 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4727 Overview of e-Cigarettes and e-Liquids Perera, S.D.; Dulmini, A.D.T. Electronic cigarettes (ENDS) were introduced to the market particularly for addicted smokers to quit the habit of conventional tobacco smoking. The process behind e-cigarettes is heating an e-liquid/juice using a battery to generate an aerosol or vapor. There are four generations of electronic cigarettes in the market; cigar like, tanks, mods and pods. The evolution of these models of electronic cigarettes has affected the young generation for two decades. Most electronic cigarette manufacturers add nicotine, flavors, other addictive chemicals and sometimes illicit products to e-liquids; thus, e-cigarettes have become a global health issue. Scientists have revealed that the content of e-liquids can create many long-term and short-term health problems including EVALI. Thus, many countries are in the process of regulating the market of electronic cigarettes. e-Cigarettes are new to the Sri Lankan society and they can be easily embraced by the younger generation due to unawareness of the dark side of these products. In this overview, components of e-cigarettes, chemicals present in e-liquids, generation of e-cigarettes, growth of e-cigarette market, and health concerns associated with vaping of e-cigarettes are presented. Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.rjt.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4727 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z