Open Access

This research aims at evaluating the use of drone (UAV) imagery in the monitoring of hydromorphological changes in a segment of Erft River in Neuss-Gnadental, which has undergone restoration. In four flight campaigns from February 2022 to November 2023, UAV images were processed with open-source photogrammetry and point clouds processing software (WebODM and CloudCompare) to create 2D orthophotos and 3D point clouds. These products supported delineation of the channel and calculation of geometric properties such as the length, sinuosity, and number of meanders which indicated good correspondence with restoration design objectives and continuous morphological changes like erosion, sediment bars, and woody debris. Hydromorphological quality at the segment scale was assessed by employing an adapted LAWA protocol using only the 2D orthomosaics and 3D point clouds. Analysis showed that restoration of the river segment produced improvements in characteristics such as flow variety, substrate type, and banks while the near “technical” parts of the segment experienced small alterations. The UAV flights were conducted frequently, enabling documentation of seasonal fluctuations that might not have been observed if the surveys had been carried out using satellite imagery. Certain advantages included centimetre-resolution imagery, flexibility in flight schedules, and visuals friendly to stakeholder impact. Nevertheless, there were specific workflow challenges. Utilising photogrammetry on open-source tools had high computational costs and required hands-on troubleshooting. Vegetation overshadows complicated semi-automated classification routines and requires manual refinement for reliable channel delineation. However, the approach proved effective for high-resolution, local-to-reach-scale monitoring, strengthening adaptive, data-driven management of river restoration sites. Subsequent campaigns should include data from multiple sensors (LiDAR, multispectral), the inclusion of classification algorithms, and longer, repeated surveys to evaluate the hydromorphological characteristics under different flow conditions. In summary, UAV imagery enhances hydromorphological monitoring and provides a powerful yet still-developing tool for science-based evaluation of restoration efforts.

Mangrove forests have been studied broadly in the recent three decades for their outstanding ability to sequester carbon in the beneath soil and other beneficial ecosystem services. Endeavors to conserve and regenerate mangrove cover are still increasing worldwide as a mechanism to include them in NDCs and carbon markets. Therefore, decision-makers in the private and public sectors require identify possible areas for conservation and restoration prior to blue carbon project investment. Thus, an integral assessment of potential mangrove carbon reservoirs in a landscape scale, considering environmental and socioeconomic factors was performed. This study was aimed to determine areas with the highest blue carbon sequestration potential in the Gulf of Guayaquil through the construction of a Blue Carbon Potential Index (BCPI) based on Spatial Multicriteria Analysis (SMCA). A narrative integrative literature review was employed to select indicators of mangrove carbon sequestration gains and losses. These indicators were pondered following the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the judgments of two experts and reclassified in four potential categories based on their thresholds. Since no consensus was achieved in the indicator importance hierarchization, a comparative of equal weighting method and AHP weighting was implemented. The linear combination rule was used to integrate these factors into a unique-scaled index supported by a geographic Information System (GIS). The results showed that 15.82% and 16.21% of the study area belonged to high and moderate potential of blue carbon sequestration respectively. Moreover, no significant differences were found between the two weighting methods applied. The BCPI provides a comprehensive understanding of spatial distribution of blue carbon potential reservoirs and grants a quantification of this potential to prioritize conservation and restoration areas.

In recent years there have been numerous technical innovations such as CGM systems or insulin pumps that have made life easier for people with type 1 diabetes. However, this also means that more and more information is available. The aim of the present study is to find out more about the daily handling of information. The following research question was asked: What information do people with type 1 diabetes use? To answer this research question, a quantitative online survey of people with type 1 diabetes was conducted by Prof. Dr. Matthias Fank at the Technical University of Cologne. The online survey mainly consisted of 25 closed questions, which were asked on a scale from 0 to 10. The responses of 1,025 people who are at least 18 years old were included in the evaluation. The most important information for type 1 diabetics is the "current value". 67.5% have this on Place 1 placed. Current glucose levels are provided by CGM systems used by 94.2% of people with type 1 diabetes. Quarterly visits to the diabetologist are important and provide important information. 30.8% “completely” agree with this statement on a scale from 0 to 10. Only 2.2% of people with type 1 diabetes are satisfied with their current diabetes management apps. There is a desire for a manufacturer-independent app. The strongest agreement with a value of 10 was chosen by almost a quarter (24.6%) of the people with type 1 diabetes. The study provides an insight into diabetes therapy and shows the need for action.

Der Kurzbericht gibt Einblicke in die wichtigsten Ergebnisse aus einer Umfrage die im Oktober 2022 durchgeführt wurde.

Ziel ist die Analyse und die Implementierung eines Datenschutzmanagements, gemäß den geltenden EU-Datenschutzvorschriften, am Beispiel eines mittelständischen Unternehmens. Nach einer Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten theoretischen und rechtlichen Grundlagen, werden geeignete Methoden zur Umsetzung vorgestellt. Anschließend wird der Aufbau des Datenschutzmanagements analysiert und an einem Beispielunternehmen implementiert. Zielgruppe sind in erster Linie Unternehmen, Selbstständige oder Beschäftigte mit Datenschutzaufgaben.