Groundwater Environment in Asian Cities


Book Description

Groundwater contributes to the sustainable development of many Asian cities by providing water for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses and regulating ecosystem flows. However, groundwater has not always been properly managed, which often has resulted in depletion and degradation of the resource. Groundwater Environment in Asian Cities presents the up-to-date scientific knowledge on groundwater environment in fourteen Asian cities using Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. In detail the book presents the facts and figures of groundwater dependency, problems related to groundwater over exploitation, implementation of various policy instruments and management practices and their results in selected fourteen Asian cities, namely; Bandung (Indonesia), Bangkok (Thailand), Beijing (China), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Chitwan (Nepal), Delhi (India), Dili (East Timor), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Hyderabad (India), Khulna (Bangladesh), Lahore (Pakistan), Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), and Yangon (Myanmar). The book provides the one-step platform to get sufficient details about groundwater aquifers, hydrogeology, groundwater status, impacts on groundwater environment and responses (technology, policy, institutional, etc.) deployed in the case studies cities, and therefore, provides a snap-shot of Asian groundwater environments. The theoretical background of the topics discussed along with the case studies help the readers understand the similarities and differences about the status of groundwater development and use in each city. In addition, the information in the book will serve as a baseline for other research such as mitigation of groundwater related problems (e.g., land subsidence), impact of climate change on groundwater, and importance of groundwater for implementing sustainable development goals in future. - Presents a framework for evaluating groundwater environment in urban environments - Includes case studies and local examples from a broad geographical range of urban environments from virtually every region in Asia, including Bandung, Bangkok, Delhi, Bishkek, Beijing and Tokyo - The book will be a valuable resource for groundwater adversaries in the scientific, decision-making and end-user communities, particularly for understanding and assessing state of groundwater resources in the region as well as learning from the responses practiced so far (Dr. Linda Anne Stevenson, APN) - The contents in this book are very much useful for informed decision-making for protecting groundwater environemntand therefore contributes in making invisible visible (Dr. Neno Kukuric, IGRAC) - With concrete examples and lessons for readers, this book responds to the call for comprehensive research and studies, the implementation of new science-based methodologies and endorsement of principles for groundwater resources management and cities (Dr. Aureli Alice, UNESCO-IHP) - As a "Regional Hub for Groundwater Management in the Asia Pacific Region, IGES finds this book as a very much useful reference for knowledge hub partners, groundwater managers, academic institutions, research scholars, and international organizations working in the areas of groundwater in Asia and beyond (Dr. Hideyuki Mori, IGES)




Groundwater Management in Asian Cities


Book Description

In 2007, the world's urban population surpassed the number of people living in rural areas and is still growing. The number of city dwellers who do not have access to piped water and rely on groundwater is also increasing. In many Asian cities, groundwater is not only the source of domestic water but also an important resource for industrial development, making better management of groundwater resources essential for sustainable development. Because groundwater is easier to access and costs less than water from piped systems, groundwater abstraction cannot be easily regulated. Policies for groundwater management adopted in Japan and other Asian countries are compared, and technologies for efficient use of groundwater are elucidated. Groundwater contamination is also a serious problem that exacerbates water scarcity in Asian cities. Case studies illustrate the cause and consequences of naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic and fluoride, and groundwater contamination due to anthropogenic contaminants is described. Also discussed are technologies for treating contaminated groundwater to reduce the health risks of drinking contaminated groundwater.




Water in Asian Cities


Book Description

Recognizing that safe and adequate water supplies are an essential component of fighting poverty and disease, the ADB Water for All Publication series focuses on understanding the water issues facing poor people in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific region. This document summarizes both a comprehensive study on water in 18 Asian cities and a regional workshop held to present the findings of the study to representatives of civil society and the media and examine the role these groups play in finding solutions to improve access and quality of water for the urban poor.




Groundwater and Subsurface Environments


Book Description

Excessive groundwater pumping, groundwater contamination, and subsurface thermal anomalies have occurred frequently in Asian coastal cities, greatly disturbing the urban aquifer and the subsurface environment. In this volume, the relationship between the stage of a city’s development and subsurface environment issues have been explored. Intensive field surveys were done in Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila. New, advanced methods, including satellite, tracer techniques, and the social economy model, were developed to evaluate subsurface conditions. Groundwater storage and groundwater recharge rates, as well as the accumulation and transport of pollutants, have been compiled as integrated indices of natural capacities under climate and social changes, and used to evaluate the vulnerability risk for all cities. The indices have been made on a yearly basis for seven cities for a century (1900–2000). Using these indicators it is now possible to manage groundwater resources in a sustainable fashion. This volume is indispensable to researchers in hydrology, coastal oceanography, civil engineering, urban geography, social economy, climatology, geothermics, and urban management.




Emerging Issues in the Water Environment during Anthropocene


Book Description

This book intends to bring together and integrate the subject matter of water quality. The book covers aspects of water related to climate change, emerging aspects of engineering sciences, bio-geochemical sciences, hydro geochemistry, river management and morphology, social sciences, and public policy. The book covers the role of disruptive innovations in water management, policy formation and impact mitigation strategies. The book includes lab results as well as case studies. It provides recommendations and solutions for policy making and sustainable water management. The chapters in this book deal cohesively with many aspects of the water environment during the Anthropocene era. The contents cover myriad issues, such as land degradation, water scarcity, urbanization, climate change, and disruptive innovation. The book also discusses issues highly pertinent to society and sustainability, such as the prevalence of enteric viruses and pharmaceutical residues as a possible anthropogenic markers in the aquatic environment. The book will prove useful for students, professionals, and researchers working on various aspects of water related concerns.




Groundwater of South Asia


Book Description

This book presents recent findings from the South Asian region (SA), broadly including groundwater studies on (a) quantity, (b) exploration, (c) quality and pollution, (d) economics, management and policies, (e) groundwater and society, and (f) sustainable sources. It offers a compilation of compelling, authentic insights into groundwater scenarios throughout the water-stressed South Asia region. Comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, it is the most densely populated region in the world: It occupies approximately 4% of the global land area but supports more than 25% of the global population. The SA region now faces an acute shortage of fresh water due to a rapid rise in water demand and changes in societal water-use patterns. Combining essential advances and perspectives, this book offers a valuable resource for all scientists, planners and policymakers who are interested in understanding and developing the SA and other related areas.




Responding to Climate Change in Asian Cities


Book Description

The role of cities in addressing climate change is increasingly recognised in international arenas, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the New Urban Agenda. Asia is home to many of the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts and, along with Africa, will be the site of most urban population growth over the coming decades. Bringing together a range of city experiences, Responding to Climate Change in Asian Cities provides valuable insights into how cities can overcome some of the barriers to building climate resilience, including addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. The chapters are centred on an overarching understanding that adaptive urban governance is necessary for climate resilience. This requires engaging with different actors to take into account their experiences, vulnerabilities and priorities; building knowledge, including collecting and using appropriate evidence; and understanding the institutions shaping interactions between actors, from the national to the local level. The chapters draw on a mix of research methodologies, demonstrating the variety of approaches to understanding and building urban resilience that can be applied in urban settings. Bringing together a range of expert contributors, this book will be of great interest to scholars of urban studies, sustainability and environmental studies, development studies and Asian studies.




Computers in Earth and Environmental Sciences


Book Description

Computers in Earth and Environmental Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies in Hazards and Risk Management addresses the need for a comprehensive book that focuses on multi-hazard assessments, natural and manmade hazards, and risk management using new methods and technologies that employ GIS, artificial intelligence, spatial modeling, machine learning tools and meta-heuristic techniques. The book is clearly organized into four parts that cover natural hazards, environmental hazards, advanced tools and technologies in risk management, and future challenges in computer applications to hazards and risk management. Researchers and professionals in Earth and Environmental Science who require the latest technologies and advances in hazards, remote sensing, geosciences, spatial modeling and machine learning will find this book to be an invaluable source of information on the latest tools and technologies available. - Covers advanced tools and technologies in risk management of hazards in both the Earth and Environmental Sciences - Details the benefits and applications of various technologies to assist researchers in choosing the most appropriate techniques for purpose - Expansively covers specific future challenges in the use of computers in Earth and Environmental Science - Includes case studies that detail the applications of the discussed technologies down to individual hazards




Sustainable Solutions for Urban Water Security


Book Description

This book presents solutions to address water security in rapidly urbanizing cities, and explores the new paradigms of water security in changing contexts. Highlighting the latest developments in water research, changes in water policy, and current discourses on water security, the book also provides information and tools for local stakeholders, water managers, and policymakers to build the capacity for sustainable water governance. The book discusses a wide range of sustainable solutions and their implementation to ensure that the balance between water supply and demand remains sustainable in the long term, with a focus on local solutions to build capacity and developing policy awareness for a wide range of stakeholders. As the concept of urban water security in changing contexts is open to multiple interpretations, the authors set out various approaches. Providing an overview of the changing perspectives of urban water security in different contexts, the book is based on findings of the Asia-Pacific Network water security project at the United Nations University, Tokyo, as well as the authors' current research-based at Pokhara University, Nepal, Hosei University, Tokyo, Institute for the Global Environmental Strategies, Japan and the Australian National University, Australia. The book also includes the views of international authorities (such as water experts) on the subject. The solutions are complemented by analysis of case studies of various localized sustainable solutions at different scales. The book is a valuable resource for water professionals and policymakers around the globe, academics, teachers working in water-related areas, NGOs, think thanks, water research institutes, donor organizations, and international and local water utility services.




Groundwater in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas


Book Description

This book provides comprehensive studies from Middle East, African countries and Asia including Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, India, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia and Turkey on groundwater management, modelling and monitoring. A broad approach such as modelling, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistical models was applied in arid and semi-arid areas for management of the groundwater. These new approaches are currently in high demand. The book delves into the applications of these methods and will be a potential asset to the researchers worldwide. The book is a timely publication containing chapters based on primary data or/and extensive review chapters comprising new emerging techniques. Current high-demand research on management through the application of modelling, artificial intelligence and machine learning is the main selling point of this book.