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Recent climate changes have prompted changes in the hydrological cycle at a global scale, creating instability when predicting future climate conditions and related changes. Perturbations in global climate models have created the need to concentrate consequent changes in hydro climatic factors to comprehend the regional and territorial impacts of climate and environmental changes. Syria, as a Middle East country, is exposed to extreme climate events such as drought and flood. The aim of this study is to analyze rainfall trends in Syria in response to the likely climate change. The analysis was conducted for rainfall data collected from 71 stations distributed all over the country for the period (1991–2009). The trend analysis was performed in monthly and seasonal scales using Mann–Kendall non-parametric statistical tests. The results attained from Mann–Kendall trend analysis revealed decreasing trends at most of the stations. Additionally, rainfall analysis was conducted for the stations with significant trends for wet and dry periods, which also revealed decreasing trends at almost all the stations. From the analysis of the results, it is obvious that slight increasing trends in rainfall in Syria occurred in the fall period. However, in the winter and spring periods, significant decreasing trends have been observed at almost all the stations. This reveals that the country will suffer from shortage of water, because most rainfall occurs in the winter and spring, infrequently in fall and rarely in summer. The results are consistent with the IPCC’s fifth report that predicted a decrease in rainfall in the Mediterranean and southern Asia. The results of this paper could help the management of water resources in Syria considering future climate changes.

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Civil engineering industry represents important industry segment, which deals with building, performing and managing construction and business. In this sector, more and more pressure is generated for raising the effectiveness and productivity. Main tool, which supports the effectiveness and productivity, is process automation. Building information modeling represents intelligent process based on a model, which offers civil engineering specialists an overview and tools for effective planning, building blueprint, building management and infrastructure. Primary building information modeling goal is to create the uniform environment, which allows managing the life-cycle of building. Result of this work in enlisted environment is a multi-dimensional model, which carries all the information. This article deals with building information modeling issues, specifically with its dimensions and brings short description of each dimension and actual level of using the 5th dimension (cost estimating) in Visegrad Four countries. Level of 5D usage is demonstrated through surveys which were realized in Visegrad Four countries, and offers an overview of current implementation status in these countries.

The environmental protection is one of the most important socio-cultural topics. Protecting and supporting the healthy environment is an important basis for preserving human existence. The quality of the environment is influenced by the construction markedly. There is also required a considerable consumption of redundant sources and energy. In this regard, it is necessary to look for alternative ways and methods for promoting energy efficiency, production reduction, waste and emissions. During the preparation, realization and occupation of buildings, automatized processes are pushed forward. One of the new, innovative processes that increase productivity and production growth is Building Information Modelling (BIM). The paper deals with several options, how the sustainability in construction can be secured in the concepts of building information modelling. The terms as sustainability, green buildings, green components, BIM Libraries are described and the availability of selected "green components" in BIM Libraries is observed.