Eliza Maciejewska

The advent of digital transformation, social learning, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence is driving requisite changes in the development of data centres, which are buildings designed to process and store data. Green innovation is an integral component of the sustainable development of data centre units. Solutions utilising green and blue infrastructure in data centres are being currently introduced with the objective of optimising energy consumption and reducing energy demand. The primary aim of the research is to analyse the utilisation of biomass production and blue–green infrastructure in data centres. The article provides a consolidated set of key performance indicators (KPIs): energy efficiency, water use, waste heat utilisation, renewable energy integration, hourly carbon-free matching, embodied carbon, and land use impacts, that can be used to compare different data centre designs. Traditional PUE-centric evaluations are broadened by added metrics such as biodiversity/green area, intensity, and 24/7 CFE, reflecting the broader, multi-dimensional sustainability challenges highlighted in the current literature. Twelve international case studies described in the literature were compared and the feasibility of the Polish pilot project in Michalowo was assessed to illustrate specific cases related to energy-saving solutions and the use of renewable energy sources in data centres.

The objective of this article is to propose a novel model for evaluating retention solutions in urban areas. This model is designed to serve as a tool to support integrated urban planning in the context of reurbanization and climate change adaptation processes. The model is both diagnostic and decision-support in nature, integrating spatial, environmental, and functional data. It analyzes these data based on a spatial dependency matrix. A comprehensive consideration of both physiographic factors (e.g., geomorphological typology and land ownership) and social and institutional factors (e.g., institutional readiness and stakeholder engagement) was undertaken. The modelling employs methodologies that are characteristic of urban and landscape design, including multi-criteria analysis, case studies, expert assessment, and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The assessment of the retention potential was conducted with consideration for the typology of buildings, infiltration capacity, soil permeability, and existing infrastructure. The findings of the present study demonstrate that local spatial and social conditions exert a substantial influence on the efficacy of retention implementation. The model enables the prioritization of actions and the selection of suitable solutions (context-sensitive retention strategies), thus making it a valuable instrument for designers, urban planners, and decision-makers. The proposed approach can be used in urban planning as a practical tool to support decisions on resilient city development and urban water management.

W artykule został przedstawiony port w Elblągu, który z powodu uwarunkowań naturalnych Zalewu Wiślanego oraz rzeki Elbląg, a także politycznych realiów, jak dotąd nie w pełni wykorzystywał swoje położenie w bliskości morza. Impulsem do rozwoju miasta i szansą na zmiany w podupadłym porcie elbląskim ma stać się oddany do użytku we wrześniu 2022 r. nowo wybudowany kanał przez Mierzeję Wiślaną. Celem pracy jest przedstawienie Elbląga i nowego portu oraz rejonu Żuław Wiślanych na tle wzrastającego ryzyka powodziowego. W oparciu o zebrane materiały źródłowe i własne analizy zaprezentowano sposoby ograniczania ryzyka powodziowego dla badanego obszaru.

The dynamically changing world poses new challenges to urbanized areas, e.g., related to water management in the architectural and urban context. Improving retention and strengthening blue-green infrastructure can be based on technical, semi-natural and natural methods, which are less invasive. Various forms are used in the city space: flow control, detention, retention, filtration, infiltration, and treatment. The implementation of the green order strategy and shaping sustainable development in the context of designing the city’s resilience is associated with shaping spatial policy and urban planning assumptions for the transformation of public spaces and new investments in urbanized areas in crisis. The shaping of waterfronts in the city and green and blue infrastructure significantly shape the parameters of the environment and the regenerative capacity of the urban ecosystem. The aim of this work was to show the relationship between the problem of embankments and the possibilities of developing space in their proximity, including areas exposed to the risk of flooding. The relationships determined by the goal were verified in comparative studies, a repeatable method of collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting the obtained data was used. The issue was presented in a broader context of flood risk and water management in the area of Lake Zegrze, collisions and spatial conflicts were analyzed. The results are presented in the context of detailed water management data for the complex of Riva Zegrze facilities, which is a model example regarding the sustainable development of areas on embankments, considering their specific floodplain development possibilities. The effects of the research allowed for the formulation of conclusions, including in terms of implementation, in the field of urban and architectural design for areas associated with an embankment.