The paper presents the analysis of different types of impact the hydroelectric power plants’ reservoirs could make on the environment. Hydroelectric power plants (HPP) produce ecologically safe energy and correspond to the modern striving for sustainability because they are operated on renewable energy sources. At the same time they can provoke various potential dangers for the environment. The objective of the investigation is to demonstrate the interrelation between the type and structure of a hydroelectric power plant and the way its reservoir may impact on the nature surrounding the plant. These effects may be direct and indirect, positive and negative and vary from insignificant that can be easily fixed to those that are irreversible and catastrophic. The latter should be taken into account during the design of HPP.

The major part of the decade for education on sustainable development declared by United Nation in 2005 is over and it is the time to review the outcomes of the efforts of national and international educational and research communities. These results differ greatly. One of the ways to grasp the picture is to look at the map of regional centres of expertise on education for sustainable development organized under the aegis of United Nations University and with its help. The biggest states formed on the ruins of the collapsed Soviet Empire are the most backward ones in this respect. For instance on the huge territory of Russia there are only two such centres, in Samara and Nizhny Novgorod. There are certain political, geographical, economic, social and even linguistic factors deterring the implementation of sustainable development methodology in national education systems. Nevertheless it can be fruitfully used on a regional level. This was proved at a number of international research conferences on provincial life and environment held at Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. A great potential of this philosophy for regional studies even in such restrictive conditions was revealed.

<p class="R-AbstractKeywords"><span lang="EN-US">The paper focuses on the transition to the education for sustainable development (ESD) paradigm in Russian university education, defining the variety and scope of problems to be solved. A comparative study of the progress in various educational and research fields is presented. The prospects for further solutions are considered.</span></p>

Industrial structures, residential buildings and other objects of infrastructure are being constructed in many Russian cities now. In addition to new constructions, reconstruction and rebuilding of existing buildings is also being performed. Meanwhile, such construction objects are situated not only in open suburban areas but also in urban districts and city zones. Often it is necessary to dismantle or demolish old run-down buildings or distressed structures before constructing new buildings. Such works always cause large amounts of construction waste. To accommodate constructive materials for new structures and to store elements of disassembled buildings and construction wastes special storage grounds are used. Being of temporal nature, these storage grounds are not capable to ensure full protection of the environment from pollution. The team of employees of Samara State Technical University investigated several districts of the city of Samara. This investigation revealed that in all temporary dumping sites construction wastes amount to 8% and dumping sites of a mixed type containing construction wastes – to 35%. The majority of temporary dumping sites are removed in a short time. Mostly, it is done by collection and removal of construction waste to special waste landfills. At the same time, the investigation demonstrated that though these dumping sites are temporal, their existence causes environmental pollution of underlying open ground as repugnant substance penetrates the ground with rains and pollution of airspace as light pollutants are dispersed by wind. Moreover, even after these temporary dumping sites are removed, already polluted soil layers continue to pollute soils as a secondary pollutant source. The authors offer a technical solution which allow to carry out rehabilitation of polluted urban areas more effectively. In particular, it is recommended to remove waste from the temporary dumping sites stage by stage. At the first stage, off-site areas should be inspected and the extent of pollution (pollution depth) of underground layers should be estimated. At the next stage, a protective barrier in the ground around the dumping site and on the surface should be built. Only after that we recommend that wastes should be removed and sent to a waste recycling plant or to a specially equipped waste landfill. Then, it is required to cut off all polluted soils and to remove them to a special waste landfill for storage. Thus, this solution makes it possible to reduce the risk of secondary environmental pollution.

The paper deals with such issues as formation and development of the infrastructure of objects for serving tourists in urban environment and specially protected natural areas with particular focus on open tower structures - a type of object which is so popular in Russia. The authors systematize international experience of integrating watchtowers in natural and anthropogenic environment as well as specific features of their modern architectural solutions. A number of examples are given. Summing up the results of the analysis we have come to conclusion that in the field of tourism the most promising tendency in functional use of vertical structures is the demonstration of cultural and natural attractions. It is also noted that in national and natural parks objects of the tower type can be built for other purposes, e.g. for conducting research, monitoring weather conditions and emergency situations. It is shown that the development of infrastructure of high-rise buildings for educational tourism contributes to sustainable development of territories and settlements.