Professor Hazi Mohammad Azamathulla

Publication/source: Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering 14 (2), 188-198, 2026

Snippet: Nitrate contamination in water represents a significant threat to both public health and the environment. While ultrasonic technology has emerged as an eco-friendly approach with potential for enhancing nitrate removal, its full capacity remains underexplored. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound in improving nitrate removal from aqueous solutions using biochar derived from rice straw, modified with Fe 3+ and Zn 2+ as cationic bridges. Conducted at the water quality laboratory of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural …

Publication/source: Water International 51 (5), 650-665, 2026

Snippet: Recurrent drought in Trinidad has intensified water insecurity in rural communities beyond the national piped network, influenced by El Niño–Southern Oscillation. The study evaluates rooftop rainwater harvesting as a livelihood managed adaptation in water-stressed communities using mixed methods. A household survey of water sources and practices, qualitative inquiry, and a review of national rainwater harvesting (RWH) policies were done. Our mixed methods results show that RWH is a primary supply and adoption operation and perceived reliability vary by sociodemographic conditions, revealing equity gaps. Policy implications are discussed with reference to other Small Island Developing States for rural water security.

Publication/source: Geographies 6 (3), 97, 2026

Snippet: Construction activities transform the physical environment through land-use change, resource consumption, waste generation, and carbon emissions, making sustainable construction especially important in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This study investigates the current use and perception of Extended Reality (XR) as a spatial visualization and human–environment decision-support tool for sustainable construction in the Caribbean construction sector. This study addresses three research gaps: knowledge, contextual, and praxis gaps including a knowledge, contextual, and praxis gap by contributing XR evidence from a Caribbean SIDS context. The novelty lies in positioning XR as a human–environment interface for sustainable construction, creating the foundation for future studies on the use of digital tools within the construction sector for sustainable environmental development. Grounded in Human–Environment Interaction Theory, the study used questionnaire survey responses from 112 construction practitioners for analysis through descriptive statistics, effectiveness scoring, effectiveness indices, and non-parametric comparison of sustainability outcome groups. Findings show that XR adoption remains limited, but practitioners recognized its potential to improve design accuracy, project visualizations, workflow coordination, stakeholder communication, safety and sustainability-related decision-making. The main barriers were lack of awareness, cost, technological complexity and limited trust in digital outputs. XR was perceived to contribute most strongly to social and economic sustainability outcomes, particularly through the creation of jobs for AR (Augmented Reality)/VR (Virtual Reality) specialists, increased worker skills and experience, and enhanced collaboration and communication. Environmental contributions may currently emerge indirectly through improved social and economic sustainability.

Publication/source: Indian Geotechnical Journal 56 (10), 5313-5330, 2026

Snippet: This study numerically investigates arsenic (As) transport in a homogeneous steady-state earth dam founded on an impermeable base using finite element modeling (SEEP/W and CTRAN/W, GeoStudio 2020). Locally sourced silty sand (SM) was characterized through laboratory tests, yielding a maximum dry density of 18.05 kN/m³, optimum moisture content of 13.1%, cohesion of 19 kPa, friction angle of 33°, and hydraulic conductivity of 6.79 × 10⁻⁶ m/s. These parameters were used as model inputs for eight dam geometries with varying slopes (34°–59°), heights (15–20 m), base widths (52–56 m), and longitudinal slopes (0–2.28%), subjected to upstream As concentrations of 10–40 mg/m³. Results show that As migration occurs primarily below the phreatic line, with negligible flux above it due to the assumption of saturated transport; unsaturated diffusion was intentionally excluded to isolate geometric effects. The solute flux increased from 3.86 × 10⁻¹² to 1.14 × 10⁻¹¹ kg/s·m² as concentration rose from 10 to 40 mg/m³, while reducing dam height from 20 m to 15 m decreased flux by over 70%. Incorporating retardation (R = 12.6) and adsorption effects produced realistic attenuation consistent with the soil’s moderate permeability. The findings demonstrate that dam geometry exerts a stronger control on As transport than concentration magnitude. The novelty of this work lies in quantifying the combined influence of geometry, concentration, and hydraulic–sorption parameters on As migration, offering design-level insights for safer dam and embankment construction in arsenic-prone regions.

Publication/source: Preprints, 2026

Snippet: Piped water is the main source of household water in Trinidad, yet service problems are widely reported while the national utility is under financial strain. Additionally, very little survey evidence exists on how consumers rate the service or whether they would pay more for improvements. This study used an online questionnaire, distributed through email, social media and mobile messaging, to which 107 adults aged 18–60 responded; perceptions, coping behaviour and willingness to pay (WTP) were examined with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and rank correlations. Only 26.2% of respondents were on a scheduled supply. Low pressure (34.3% of reported problems), discoloured water (27.6%) and supply interruptions (16.6%) were the most frequently reported problems, while odour was rarely cited (3.9%). Satisfaction with water quality was moderate (44.9% satisfied, 41.1% neutral, 14.0% dissatisfied), and 38.3% of households treated water at home. Only 22.4%(95% CI 15.6–31.2%) were definitely willing to pay a higher monthly fee, 35.5% were unsure and 42.1% were not; among those indicating an amount, 70.0% would accept an increase of no more than 5%. The main reasons for declining were the belief that quality should improve at no extra cost (58.2%) and lack of trust in the water authority (55.7%), rather than inability to pay (16.5%). WTP rose with household income, from 0% in the lowest band to 50.0% above TT $20,000 per month, but was not significantly associated with residence, household size, satisfaction or home treatment. Willingness to pay for better piped water is therefore limited, conditional on trust in the provider and concentrated among higher-income households, so visible service improvements, transparent accountability and income-sensitive tariff design appear to be preconditions for price-based funding of upgrades.