In order to perceive the pressure oscillation in the hydraulic hitch-system of the tractor and oscillation of the whole tractor aggregate at different loads on the hitch-system, a physical model is used. Changing the position of weight on physical implement boom, different moments of inertia were obtained and the appropriate load on the hydraulic hitch-system hydro cylinder. Results of driving experiments on the artificial roughness road present the maximum pressure peak of 220 bar in the tractor hydraulic system when weight was placed on further position, and the driving speed was 8 km hE-1 and tyre pressure was 1.2 bar. At the driving speed of 11.2 km hE-1 and with the same tyre pressure, the hydraulic system pressures reached up to 212 bar. On the weight on the middle position of boom, pressure in the hydraulic hitch-system reached 172 bar at the driving speed of 7.8 km hE-1 and tyre pressure of 1.2 bar, but at the driving speed of 11.2 km hE-1 and at the same tyre pressure, the hydraulic system pressures reached 165 bar. If the weight was placed on nearest position, pressure in the hydraulic hitch-system reached only 85 bar at the driving speed of 7.8 km hE-1 and tyre pressure - 1.2 bar, but at the driving speed of 11.2 km hE-1 and at the same tyre pressure, it was 98 bar. The investigation of the physical tractor-implement model allows the determination of the conformity of the physical model with real harrow implement.

Forethought deployment of an industrial production system is a significant step towards improving economic benefit of an industrial company. The author proposes the procedure for finding an optimal specification of multirobot system, which considers it on the level of components of the robotic system. Components are grouped into mobile or stationary units of the system. A set of agents is considered as a solution for particular mission, it defines a specification of a heterogeneous multi-robot system. The paper presents the concept of the optimization procedure and describes the implementation of investment costs optimization step, which uses genetic algorithm.

Family education as a support to families where children are with special needs is mentioned in family politics statements. Unfortunately, family education problems in rural areas characterise present day situation in Latvia. Professionals with less specific knowledge essential to deal with special needs satisfaction is a reality in rural areas in Latvia. It is vital to advance family autonomy, develop an opportunity to deal with consequences that disabilities cause and, improve environmental conditions for children with special needs. The aim of this article is to fortify necessity of family education as a partnership comprehension development to children with special needs in rural area. The investigation was carried out in National Rehabilitation centre ”Vaivari” in April 2012, by involving families with children with special needs. Analysis of scientific resources has been done; survey and statistical analysis of data were carried out, by using non-parametric method - Mann Whitney U test. During the research, the main family education comprehension aspects to families living in rural or city area and having children with special needs are identified. The advantages in special needs satisfaction context in rural areas and city environment are analysed. Measurements of respondent attitude to innovative family education e-solutions are made. Objectively and subjectively determined social isolation risk of families having children with special needs in rural area show the necessity to use family resources related to consequences that disabilities create. It is necessary to develop ways to use modern technological opportunities, provide appropriate family education and partnership with professionals.

The most important part in forest inventory based on remote sensing data is individual tree identification, because only when the tree is identified, we can try to determine its characteristic features. The objective of research was to explore remote sensing methods to determine individual tree position using LiDAR and digital aerial photography in Latvian forest conditions. The study site was a forest in the middle of Latvia – in Jelgava district (56º39’ N, 23º47’ E). Aerial photography camera (ADS 40) and laser scanner (ALS 50 II) were used to capture the data. LiDAR resolution was 9p m2 (500 m altitude). The image data is RGB, NIR and PAN spectrum with 20 cm pixel resolution. Image processing was made using Fourier transform, frequency filtering, and reverse Fourier transform. LiDAR data processing methods was based on canopy height model, Gaussian mask, and local maxima. Field measurements were tree coordinates, species, height, diameter at breast height, crown width and length. Using combined LiDAR and optical imagery data allows detecting at least 63% of all trees and about 85% of the dominant trees.

Litter invertebrate communities in pine forests of different age (cut, six-year-old, 45-, 62-, and 105-year-old) in the Baranivka area of Zhytomyr Polissya (northwestern part of Ukraine) were studied. Samples were collected in April, August, and November 2011. 99% of extracted invertebrates were represented by mites (Acari) and springtails (Collembola). With forest age, the following tendencies were observed: mean absolute density of mites, springtails, and all litter-inhabiting animals increased; relative abundance of mites increased, but relative abundance of springtails decreased; taxonomic richness of invertebrate communities increased. In all samples, the most represented taxon was suborder Oribatida. The most diverse litter invertebrate community was in the 45-year-old forest. Similar compositions of invertebrate community were in the 45-, 62-, and 105-year-old forests as well as the cut and six-year-old ones.

Growing of economics and new technologies has caused the environment pollution and more intensive use of natural resources. The principles of stable and balanced forestry became more and more important. Ecologization forests economy directly and indirectly impacts environment, water, air, landscape. It is not allowed to use chemicals in ecological farms. In Lithuania the number of ecological farms is growing that is why the new effective ecological methods are needed to protect seedlings from weeds. Alternative to mechanical control of weed is to use high temperature. In ecological farms weed control after sowing time is pursued in mechanic, and recently in thermal way. In thermal weed control the surface of soil remains mechanically undisturbed, the roots of cultural plants remain undisturbed, too. These features are very important in forest nurseries, where different kinds of tree species are growing. Seedlings are very small at the beginning of growing, so mechanical weed control is difficult. Thermal weed control could be a good alternative. Comparable data of 2009-2011 thermal weed control research in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) nursery is given. The efficiency of destroyed 16 weed sorts using thermal and mechanical ways of weed control is given. Thermal weed control for short age weeds is 20.3% more effective in comparison with mechanical way. Mechanical way is 35.2% more effective for perennial weeds. It was detected that in order to control weeds of different growth stages, it is necessary to use different treatment time of damp water stream.

Tree roots take up a high proportion of forest biomass, and nowadays we use different methods to estimate the root biomass. Methods vary greatly due to the different studies and different excavation methods used. In the summer 2010, a study of the below-ground biomass of young Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. stands was carried out in central Latvia. In this paper, different below-ground biomass fractions data of 10 sample trees from the abandoned agricultural land plantations were approximated by allometric functions depending on tree stem diameter at breast height 1.3 m (DBH). The main objective was to determine the average below-ground biomass and approximated below-ground biomass fractions by allometric functions depending on tree DBH of young stands of Scots pine on abandoned agricultural land. Our regressions offer good overall approximations of the data. DBH – stump, coarse root and small root and total biomass regressions were highly significant (p is less than 0.001). The most substantial part of total below-ground biomass was from stumps (45%). The smallest shares of the biomass were coarse roots 38% and small roots 16%. The largest portion (52%) of the total fine-root biomass of 12- and 14-year-old Scots pine stands was located at a depth of 0–10 cm, decreasing in deeper mineral soil layers. Total dry (DM) below-ground biomass including fine-root biomass was 19.0 ±5.2 t DM ha-E1.

With the increase in demand for renewable energy resources, new studies are carried out about under - utilized resources, namely, stumps. To begin to use stumps in industrial application, it is necessary to find out stump extraction influence on the environment, biodiversity, forest regeneration and other important factors. In Zemgale forestry, Misas and Klīves forest districts managed by Joint stock company “Latvian State Forests” (LSF) study on stump extraction in woodlands where clear-cuttings done in 2006 was carried out in the block No. 177, compartments No. 1 and 5, as well as the block No. 176, compartments No. 3 and 9. In these territories two research objects were made where in November-December 2007 stump extraction as well as soil preparation were performed. Main tasks of the project were to evaluate the results of forest natural seeding and coppice ingrowths in natural regeneration areas and evaluate the use of different methods for artificial reforestation with spruce and pine containerized seedlings. It was observed that more seedlings were cut off in the areas where soil scarification with stump extractor was performed if compared to areas prepared with a disc trencher.

Churchyard of Latgale Upland is one of the most important parts of cultural historic space of Latvia. The study is based on the materials from expedition made in summer and autumn 2011, as well as on literary studies. Architecturally compositional form of the church is a key part of the landscape, supplemented by other landscape elements. Research and evaluation of the individual elements give specific cultural space characteristics of each investigated area. Visibility in the main view points and links with residential buildings for the churchyard is vital. Each study of landscape area schemes formation is based not only on the church as a domination point expression. Separate churchyard elements - crucifixes, procession paths, burial area, meditation area and a planting in church gardens - are important in describing churchyards. The aim of the research was to find most common elements in churchyards to establish general guidelines for recording and evaluation of the churchyard in Latgale Upland in future. In perspective that could be used as basis for making the landscape typology. Results showed typical landscape elements in the churchyard. In describing churchyards is important to divide typical and unique elements. The research provides information that is important for the further local territorial development plans, focusing attention on the region’s cultural values and identity preservation.

Contamination of urban areas is directly connected with the lack of adequate waste management planning. Problems mostly arise in former military bases, garages, warehouses and areas with other facilities. For many decades environmental problems caused by pollution in areas of military use were not managed in Latvia. The aim of this research is to assess visual environmental quality and study heavy metal contents in soil of ‘Jaunais Mežaparks’ after demolishing works in the capital of Latvia – Riga, as well as to provide comparison to the former military ‘Daugavgrīva’ site. Research was carried out from November 2011 to February 2012 by soil sampling and further analysis and comparison of the heavy metal content in soil with target and boundary levels in legislation. ‘Jaunais Mežaparks’ is a former military area which is planned to be reused in future. The former military site is planned to be used as the residential neighborhood and is situated close to important recreational object in Mežaparks area – Lake Ķīšezers. According to Riga Development Plan old military sites must be remediated in accordance with environmental legislation if the contamination exceeds critical concentration values. Thus, this case study includes assessment of visual pollution as well as soil heavy metal contamination study. Recommended actions as well as direct remediation technologies to reduce the poisonous impact of contamination to environment in this area are proposed.