After height system replacement in Latvia, there is a transformation formula for point height difference theoretical value in any place of Latvia. Performing practical Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements and obtained data mathematical processing, there is also a possibility to calculate point height difference, in this case – practical values. There were thirteen 1st class levelling network points selected in territory of Latvia and got the theoretical and practical values of them. As the result, it is possible to compare height differences between Baltic Normal Height System 1977 and Latvian Normal Height System 2000,5. The practical and theoretical values should coincide, but just 3 of selected geodetic points the height difference comparing practical and theoretical values is close to zero and point height difference of all measured points differs in 17 cm amplitudes indicating problems with transformation formula or need to improve geoid model.

From the 1920s through the 90s, most streams in Lithuania were channelized. Channelization is the deepening, clearing and straightening of meandering streambeds resulting increase of water flow velocity and the rate at which water drained away from agricultural land. Channelized and straightened streams have better hydrodynamic parameters and different morphological properties, but at the same time that caused more unfavourable conditions for natural biodiversity along stream beds and banks reducing the amount of vegetation which means less food and cover for wildlife. Most of West European countries have a good practice for restoring of channelized rivers. This experience is quite new in Lithuania and starting with pilot projects. The most important purpose of these projects is to choose the appropriate restoration measures and evaluate their effectiveness under conditions of dense channel network and tile drainage systems in Lithuania. Two channelized streams, selected for a pilot project are discussed in this paper. The main purpose is to restore stream meandering with minimal efforts allocating artificial obstructions at a right place and reach the necessary stream velocities to initiate the stream bed deformation. For this purpose detailed channel geometry data were collected and 1D hydrodynamic model applied. The results of different scenarios revealed that installed obstructions can accelerate deformations processes initiate the meandering process and at the same time it will not have any significant effect on the agricultural land along restored stream.

Due to intensive agricultural activities being developed in Middle Lithuania, the water quality of rivers in this region significantly decreases. Rivers, flowing through the town territory, should provide aesthetic delight to the residents, however, because of pollution, especially at the end of summer; they are usually covered in duckweed and algae layer. The paper presents the change of the main water pollution indicators (BOD7, Ntotal, NH4 -N, NO3 -N, Ptotal, PO4 -P and O2) in Dotnuvele and Smilga streams during 2013 – 2015. The aim of research is to determine the change of the main surface water pollution factors in Dotnuvele and Smilga streams, depending on the meteorological conditions. Data analysis showed that dissolved oxygen, nitrate and total nitrogen concentrations are affected by air temperature: the lower of the air temperature, and the more of these elements were found in the water of the streams, (r = -0.61), (r = -0.83) and (r = -0.64) respectively. An increasing precipitation was also increasing the amount of O2 and NO3 -N in stream’s water, (r = 0.44), (r = 0.49) respectively. Meteorological conditions did not have a significant impact on concentrations of other chemical elements, however, correlation analysis showed that concentrations of BOD7 in streams’ water were increasing as precipitation level was falling (r = 0.41), and PO4 -P – when air temperature was increasing (r = 0.46). It was determined that in every spring the stream’s water quality according to the concentrations of Ntotal and N-NO3 was in a bad or average ecological condition. This was caused by the farming fields from which these streams are collecting drainage water during the spring melt.

Geophysical studies in mapping and screening applications are widely applied for archaeological, environmental, geological, hydrological and many other applications. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is one of methods from geophysical toolbox that is also called a ground-probing radar, subsurface radar, surface-penetrating radar and ‘georadar’ or impulse radar – it is a non-invasive and non-destructive technique. Pulsed electromagnetic signal is recording the reflected energy and scattering from subsurface objects. Studies were performed in former Littorina Sea lagoons that became lakes after the further Limnea Sea stage in the Baltic Sea established with comparatively lower absolute sea level that is close to present day situation. Characterization of sediments as well as full sediment core description for comparison with GPR signals were performed. Major results show that GPR as non-destructive method in combination with geological coring followed by laboratory analysis of sediment properties can be successfully used to describe layering conditions, topography and depth of shallow lakes. Although there are some limitations regarding the electromagnetic (EM) noise and similar EM properties of analysed sediments, proper treatment of data gives complementary insight thus diminishing the necessity of dense coring network establishments in analysed areas of lakes. The aim of this screening study is to analyse potential advantages of GPR use for mapping sediments and topography of sandy bottom in shallow lagoon lakes as well as pinpoint problems during field and cameral works considering electromagnetic, geological and topographical disturbances.

In this study, forest type mapping data set taken from UCI (University of California, Irvine) machine learning repository database has been classified using different machine learning algorithms including Multilayer Perceptron, k-NN, J48, Naïve Bayes, Bayes Net and KStar. In this dataset, there are 27 spectral values showing the type of three different forests (Sugi, Hinoki, mixed broadleaf). As the performance measure criteria, the classification accuracy has been used to evaluate the classifier algorithms and then to select the best method. The best classification rates have been obtained 90.43% with MLP, and 89.1013% with k-NN classifier (for k=5). As can be seen from the obtained results, the machine learning algorithms including MLP and k-NN classifier have obtained very promising results in the classification of forest type with 27 spectral features.

Due to the globalization, the financial sector has undergone major changes in the way services are provided and delivered. Customers increasingly prefer to receive services remotely, which is a more convenient and faster way, but the majority of European banks are not ready to provide it. 90% of European banks invest less than 0.5% of total spending on service digitization; therefore, only 20 – 40% of the processes are digitized. The service digitization can be a major challenge for banks in the future. Only banks that provide a full range of digitized services will be able to increase profitability and revenues and reduce costs. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the satisfaction of international corporate customers and define the role of digitized services to improve international activities of banks. Quantitative and qualitative research methods, including the statistical data analysis, graphical analysis, linear and multiple regression analysis, correlation, comparison and grouping methods, as well as survey have been used for the research, and SPSS 20 has been used for data processing. So far there are no analyses of the digitized services in Latvia that would be based on international customer experience and needs. The results of the research concluded that the higher usefulness indicator, the higher is the possibility that international corporate customers will continue to use internet banking services. The digitized services strategy ensures the availability of essential daily digitized services in internet banking and ensures the savings in time and in financial resources for the bank and its international corporate customers.

The purpose of this report is to provide national- and state-level policymakers, private-sector investors, civil society, and donors with an analysis of the rural economy of Mon State and pathways to improved prosperity for its population. The analysis is based on a representative survey of rural households, which make up 73 percent of Mon State’s 2 million residents, and extensive interviews with farmers, traders, processors, local leaders, and government officials. Whereas some parts of the Mon State economy are quite dynamic, such as construction, others are stagnant and far from reaching their full potential. Furthermore, the dynamic sectors are heavily dependent on remittances from migrants to neighboring countries. The current pattern of donor investment is heavily focused on necessary infrastructure and energy investments, but with only very limited support to productive sectors, especially agriculture and fisheries. Major investments in education, both formal and vocational training, are also necessary to support the growth of a modern economy. The analysis in this report identifies options for more balanced growth, leading to a vibrant economy in which returning migrants can invest and find employment.

The purpose of this report is to provide national- and state-level policymakers, private-sector investors, civil society, and donors with an analysis of the rural economy of Mon State and pathways to improved prosperity for its population. The analysis is based on a representative survey of rural households, which make up 73 percent of Mon State’s 2 million residents, and extensive interviews with farmers, traders, processors, local leaders, and government officials. Whereas some parts of the Mon State economy are quite dynamic, such as construction, others are stagnant and far from reaching their full potential. Furthermore, the dynamic sectors are heavily dependent on remittances from migrants to neighboring countries. The current pattern of donor investment is heavily focused on necessary infrastructure and energy investments, but with only very limited support to productive sectors, especially agriculture and fisheries. Major investments in education, both formal and vocational training, are also necessary to support the growth of a modern economy. The analysis in this report identifies options for more balanced growth, leading to a vibrant economy in which returning migrants can invest and find employment.

The purpose of this policy brief is to provide national and state-level policymakers, private sector investors, civil society and donors with an analysis of the rural economy of Mon State and pathways to improved prosperity for its population. The analysis is based on a representative survey (the Mon State Rural Household Survey 2015) of 1680 rural households, which comprise 73% of Mon State’s 2 million residents, and extensive interviews with farmers, traders, processors, local leaders and government officials.

This chapter draws attention to the link between VCD and smallholder livelihood strategies that comprise a complex mix of subsistence and market-oriented activities and that are diversified to meet multiple livelihood goals and mitigate risks; and the authors address the related implications for the design and assessment of value-chain interventions. They question some of the underlying assumptions of NGOs, government agencies, and private-sector agents seeking to link smallholders to higher-value markets.