Spatial Modeling and Assessment of Environmental Contaminants


Book Description

This book demonstrates the measurement, monitoring and mapping of environmental contaminants in soil & sediment, surface & groundwater and atmosphere. This book explores state-of-art techniques based on methodological and modeling in modern geospatial techniques specifically focusing on the recent trends in data mining techniques and robust modeling. It also presents modifications of and improvements to existing control technologies for remediation of environmental contaminants. In addition, it includes three separate sections on contaminants, risk assessment and remediation of different existing and emerging pollutants. It covers major topics such as: Radioactive Wastes, Solid and Hazardous Wastes, Heavy Metal Contaminants, Arsenic Contaminants, Microplastic Pollution, Microbiology of Soil and Sediments, Soil Salinity and Sodicity, Aquatic Ecotoxicity Assessment, Fluoride Contamination, Hydrochemistry, Geochemistry, Indoor Pollution and Human Health aspects. The content of this book will be of interest to researchers, professionals, and policymakers whose work involves environmental contaminants and related solutions.




Geospatial Analysis of Environmental Health


Book Description

This book focuses on a range of geospatial applications for environmental health research, including environmental justice issues, environmental health disparities, air and water contamination, and infectious diseases. Environmental health research is at an exciting point in its use of geotechnologies, and many researchers are working on innovative approaches. This book is a timely scholarly contribution in updating the key concepts and applications of using GIS and other geospatial methods for environmental health research. Each chapter contains original research which utilizes a geotechnical tool (Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, GPS, etc.) to address an environmental health problem. The book is divided into three sections organized around the following themes: issues in GIS and environmental health research; using GIS to assess environmental health impacts; and geospatial methods for environmental health. Representing diverse case studies and geospatial methods, the book is likely to be of interest to researchers, practitioners and students across the geographic and environmental health sciences. The authors are leading researchers and practitioners in the field of GIS and environmental health.




Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering


Book Description

Pesticides: Human Health, Environmental Impacts and Management considers microbial degradation and environmental management of pesticides, covers microbial options as an alternative to chemical pesticides, explores plant-microbe interactions for reduced applications of pesticides in the agricultural fields, discusses the enhancement of microbial pesticides degradation, explains function of engineered microorganisms for effective pesticide degradation, describes potential indigenous/effective microbes for effective pesticide degradation processes, and presents research on microbes for sustainable agricultural and environmental practices. - Provides the latest developments and progress on pesticide management through sustainable practices - Describes the adverse effects of pesticides on human health and its precautionary control measures through biological agents - Introduces the aspects and advances of biological technologies in the environment for sustainable management of pesticides - Elaborates on advanced prospective, vide application, and modern practices of harnessing the potential of microbial resources in environment




Geomorphology and Environmental Impact Assessment


Book Description

This volume focuses on the close relationship between geomorphology and environmental impact assessment, and provides a wide-ranging overview of this topic. It includes several case studies covering a variety of environmental impacts derived from human activities (quarrying, communication infrastructure etc.) on different geomorphologic components (landforms, soil, landscapes etc.) and environments (glacial, fluvial, coastal etc.) The case studies presented offer a methodological guide from the most traditional geomorphological approaches through to the use of spatial data analysis and GIS tools and techniques. Environmental Impact Assessment is a relatively new scientific branch in which a wide variety of specialists are increasingly becoming involved. This volume will be of interest to geomorphologists, biologists, geographers, architects and engineers.




Spatial Modeling of Environmental Pollution and Ecological Risk


Book Description

Spatial Modeling of Environmental Pollution and Ecological Risk provides valuable information and insights for researchers, students and professionals in geography, hydrology, sedimentology, soil science, agriculture, engineering and GIS as they face increasingly complex challenges around development strategies for a sustainable society. Written by the world's leading researchers in their field, each article will begin with a short introductory essay that includes an overview of the sections' papers. Individual chapters focus on the core themes of research and knowledge and some topics that have received lesser attention. Each chapter will review the current understanding of knowledge regarding the present study and scope and consider where future efforts should be directed. - Discusses issues at the forefront of present research in environmental science, bioscience, ecology, pedogeomorphology, landscape, geoscience, forestry, hydrology and GIS - Explores state-of-art techniques based on methodological and modeling in modern Deep learning and Machine learning geospatial techniques through case studies - Describes novel control strategies, remediation and eco-restoration, and conservation techniques for sustainable development




Models in Environmental Regulatory Decision Making


Book Description

Many regulations issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are based on the results of computer models. Models help EPA explain environmental phenomena in settings where direct observations are limited or unavailable, and anticipate the effects of agency policies on the environment, human health and the economy. Given the critical role played by models, the EPA asked the National Research Council to assess scientific issues related to the agency's selection and use of models in its decisions. The book recommends a series of guidelines and principles for improving agency models and decision-making processes. The centerpiece of the book's recommended vision is a life-cycle approach to model evaluation which includes peer review, corroboration of results, and other activities. This will enhance the agency's ability to respond to requirements from a 2001 law on information quality and improve policy development and implementation.




Decision Support Systems for Risk-Based Management of Contaminated Sites


Book Description

Decision Support Systems for Risk-Based Management of Contaminated Sites addresses decision making in environmental risk management for contaminated sites, focusing on the potential role of decision support systems in informing the management of chemical pollutants and their effects. Considering the environmental relevance and the financial impacts of contaminated sites all over the post-industrialized countries and the complexity of decision making in environmental risk management, decision support systems can be used by decision makers in order to have a more structured analysis of a problem at hand and define possible options of intervention to solve the problem. Accordingly, the book provides an analysis of the main steps and tools for the development of decision support systems, namely: environmental risk assessment, decision analysis, spatial analysis and geographic information system, indicators and endpoints. Sections are dedicated to the review of decision support systems for contaminated land management and for inland and coastal waters management. Both include discussions of management problem formulation and of the application of specific decision support systems. This book is a valuable support for environmental risk managers and for decision makers involved in a sustainable management of contaminated sites, including contaminated lands, river basins and coastal lagoons. Furthermore, it is a basic tool for the environmental scientists who gather data and perform assessments to support decisions, developers of decision support systems, students of environmental science and members of the public who wish to understand the assessment science that supports remedial decisions.




Toxicity of Aquatic System and Remediation


Book Description

The eco-friendly remediation technologies for the degraded environment are indeed the “need of the hour”. Even though the regulatory mechanisms are in place to control the discharge of untreated contaminants into the natural environment, still, we could see a different picture; hence, remediation and restoration of the environment becomes an ardent requisite. The present-day fast pace of industrialization without proper disposal planning is impacting the water bodies adversely, generating the need for green management technologies. It is worth mentioning that these environment-friendly technologies are most cost-effective as well. The advancements in biotechnology have paved the way to mitigate the problem. The primary audience of this book are the students and researchers who are working in the field of toxicology and bioremediation of aquatic environments. We have primarily focused in this book on bioremediation of aquatic system toxicity, considering this as an environment-friendly system and having the least adverse effects. Hence this book aims to bring forward together on a single platform the latest research in aquatic resource management, which includes the discussions and discourses on the degradation and the effect and the remediation. This book includes a discussion on the different sources of contamination from industries or by the usage of commercial pesticides or even fertilizers. These contaminants, if discharged in their toxic form as effluent, cause harm to the aquatic systems and the subsoil and create the possibility of groundwater contamination. This book includes a discussion on the different routes of contamination and the food-chain transport possibilities of pesticide pollutants, which are very contemporary and required topics of research. It also includes relevant discussions on how to get rid of the toxicity.




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.




Recent Trends in Modelling of Environmental Contaminants


Book Description

The book deals primarily with the aspects like energy resources and its proper utilization, disposal of various forms of wastes and its effects and effects of major catastrophic events like nuclear disasters, global warming, etc. It also deals with the choice of suitable disposal sites for solid and hazardous waste, which is growing at an extremely rapid pace due to rapid industrialization, population growth (primarily in countries like India and China) and urbanization. In addition groundwater contamination due to various causes and its effect on the food chain is also amply discussed. The book is specifically aimed with the state-of-art information regarding research and development in these areas of study, coupled to extensive modelling and case based results obtained, both from India as well as other countries. The book is extremely instructive for the students, research workers, scientists, faculty members in Applied Physics, Solid Earth Geophysics, Radiometric Methods and Exploration, Ground Water Geochemistry, Mathematical Modeling Techniques in Earth Sciences, Near Surface Geophysics and Earth and Environmental Sciences.