Environmental Engineering for Ecosystem Restoration—An Introduction

Abstract

This extensive volume addresses a range of environmental challenges and explores sustainable solutions across various domains. The research encompasses studies on paper consumption trends, thermal energy storage systems in green buildings, health risks associated with long-term noise exposure in urban areas, and passive design principles for buildings in cold and arid climates. The volume also delves into GIS-based assessments for ecosystem restoration, including groundwater quality in a smart city and spatiotemporal variability of short-term meteorological drought in semi-arid regions. Natural risk and vulnerability studies cover topics such as landslide vulnerability and the impact of changing climate on rainfall. Land use and land cover maps are analyzed for spatio-temporal changes using remote sensing and GIS tools. In the realm of industrial assessment, the volume addresses the treatment of dye-based effluents from various industries, focusing on electrochemical systems and adsorption analysis. Soft computing and numerical methods are applied to assess saltwater intrusion in inland aquaculture areas and predict ammonia levels in aquaculture. The volume also explores hydraulic structures' role in flood mitigation, with a focus on energy dissipation using a rigid stepped spillway. Groundwater suitability for irrigation is evaluated using electrical resistivity techniques. Solid waste management and green materials are extensively discussed, covering life cycle assessment in the silk textile industry, carbon footprint assessment of green concrete liners, and the effects of fly ash on concrete properties. Water quality assessment studies include analyses of borewell water for drinking purposes, groundwater quality modeling using artificial neural networks, and the application of phytoremediation for sullage treatment. The volume concludes with discussions on solid waste management in rural areas, with a focus on adaptation strategies, and quantification of water efficiencies in residential buildings. The study contributes to understanding environmental challenges and provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. Key themes include sustainable practices, environmental impact assessment, and the development of innovative technologies for waste treatment.