Machine Learning for Subsurface Characterization develops and applies neural networks, random forests, deep learning, unsupervised learning, Bayesian frameworks, and clustering methods for subsurface characterization. Machine learning (ML) focusses on developing computational methods/algorithms that learn to recognize patterns and quantify functional relationships by processing large data sets, also referred to as the "big data." Deep learning (DL) is a subset of machine learning that processes "big data" to construct numerous layers of abstraction to accomplish the learning task. DL methods do not require the manual step of extracting/engineering features; however, it requires us to provide large amounts of data along with high-performance computing to obtain reliable results in a timely manner. This reference helps the engineers, geophysicists, and geoscientists get familiar with data science and analytics terminology relevant to subsurface characterization and demonstrates the use of data-driven methods for outlier detection, geomechanical/electromagnetic characterization, image analysis, fluid saturation estimation, and pore-scale characterization in the subsurface.

Determination of Metals in Natural Waters, Sediments and Soils provides analytic labs with a comprehensive overview of the various methods available for analysis of metals and serves as a manual to determine metal concentrations in different media such as natural waters, waste waters, sediments and soils. The book begins with a discussion of sampling techniques and preservation and then covers metals in rivers, surface ground and mineral waters and metals in aqueous precipitation. It concludes with detailed information on analysis of metals in sediments. Determination of Metals in Natural Waters, Sediments and Soils provides a foundation for informed action by environmental interest groups and regulators and a starting point for further study by graduate students, professionals, and researchers.

Resulting from a merger of two successful events, this book contains papers presented at the 11th International Conference on Waste Management and Environmental and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development. To prevent emerging threats to environmental and ecological systems we must learn from past failures to avoid repeating similar mistakes. Waste management is one of the key problems of modern society due to the ever-expanding volume and complexity of discarded domestic and industrial waste and its implications on health and the environment. Society is increasingly aware of the need to establish better practices and safer solutions for waste disposal. This creates a need for more research on current disposal methods such as landfills, incineration, chemical and effluent treatment, as well as recycling, clean technologies, waste monitoring, public and corporate awareness and general education. The desired direction of waste management is towards sustainable strategies that avoid the short term solutions applied in the past. The approach which has emerged as the most promising has been called 4Rs, where reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery are seen as the best actions. More recently these concepts have given rise to the new model of the 'Circular Economy', which is based on the reuse of what up to now has been considered waste, reintroducing them into the production cycle. Further steps are required towards the improvement of current technologies, increased collaboration between the public, government and private sectors and increased involvement of all stakeholders. The included research works put a focus on the impact of economic constraints on the environment, taking into account the social aspects as well as the over-use of natural resources, contamination and toxicity. Problems of great importance are addressed, with the goal of finding constructive and progressive approaches to ensure sustainability.

Environmental problems caused by the increase of pollutant loads discharged into natural water bodies requires the formation of a framework for regulation and control. This framework needs to be based on scientific results that relate pollutant discharge with changes in water quality. The results of these studies allow the industry to apply more efficient methods of controlling and treating waste loads, and water authorities to enforce appropriate regulations regarding this matter. Water pollution problems are essentially interdisciplinary. Engineers and scientists working in this field must be familiar with a wide range of issues including the physical processes of mixing and dilution, chemical and biological processes, mathematical modelling, data acquisition and measurement, to name but a few. In view of the scarcity of available data, it is important that experiences are shared on an international basis. Thus, a continuous exchange of information between scientists from different countries is essential. Papers presented at Water Pollution 2020, the 15th International Conference in the series of Monitoring, Modelling and Management of Water Pollution, are contained in this volume and highlight research works from scientists, managers and academics from different areas of water contamination.

Technological Learning in the Transition to a Low-Carbon Energy System: Conceptual Issues, Empirical Findings, and Use in Energy Modeling quantifies key trends and drivers of energy technologies deployed in the energy transition. It uses the experience curve tool to show how future cost reductions and cumulative deployment of these technologies may shape the future mix of the electricity, heat and transport sectors. The book explores experience curves in detail, including possible pitfalls, and demonstrates how to quantify the 'quality' of experience curves. It discusses how this tool is implemented in models and addresses methodological challenges and solutions. For each technology, current market trends, past cost reductions and underlying drivers, available experience curves, and future prospects are considered. Electricity, heat and transport sector models are explored in-depth to show how the future deployment of these technologies-and their associated costs-determine whether ambitious decarbonization climate targets can be reached - and at what costs. The book also addresses lessons and recommendations for policymakers, industry and academics, including key technologies requiring further policy support, and what scientific knowledge gaps remain for future research.

Water Quality in the Third Pole: The Roles of Climate Change and Human Activities offers in-depth coverage of water quality issues (natural and human-related), the monitoring of contaminants, and the remediation of water contamination. The book's chapters assess years of research on water quality and climate change in this fascinating and scientifically important region. Topics addressed include climate change impacts on water qualities of freshwater bodies, such as glaciers, lakes, rivers and precipitation. In addition, the book explains the growing concerns over water quality, such as mercury, trace elements, major ions, persistent organic pollutants and their circulation. As such, it is an essential reference for academics and policymakers interested in the water quality of natural bodies.

Wastewater Treatment Residues as Resources for Biorefinery Products and Energy reviews wastewater treatment processes and the use of residues. The viability of end use processes for residues, such as incineration, cement additives, agricultural fertilizers, and methane production are reviewed and analyzed, as are new processes for the use of residues within a fuels production system, such as pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction and syngas. Specialized chapters discuss fractionation of biomass, the production of compounds from volatile fatty acids that conceptually proceed from the anaerobic acidogenesis of residues, and a final analysis of the overall productivity and viability that can be expected from these production schemes.

Graphene-Based Nanotechnologies for Energy and Environmental Applications explores how graphene-based materials are being used to make more efficient, reliable products and devices for energy storage and harvesting and environmental monitoring and purification. The book outlines the major sustainable, recyclable, and eco-friendly methods for using a range of graphene-based materials in innovative ways. It represents an important information source for materials scientists and engineers who want to learn more about the use of graphene-based nanomaterials to create the next generation of products and devices in energy and environmental science. Graphene-based nanotechnologies are at the heart of some of the most exciting developments in the fields of energy and environmental research. Graphene has exceptional properties, which are being used to create more effective products for electronic systems, environmental sensing devices, energy storage, electrode materials, fuel cell, novel nano-sorbents, membrane and photocatalytic degradation of environmental pollutants especially in the field of water and wastewater treatment.

As global waste generation increases at a rapid rate, there is a dire need for waste management practices such as collection, disposal, and recycling to protect from environmental pollution. However, developing countries generate two to three times more waste, resort to open dumps more often than developed countries, and are slower to integrate waste management standards. There is a need for studies that examine the waste generation and practices of countries that share similar economic backgrounds as they strive to implement successful waste management techniques. Sustainable Waste Management Challenges in Developing Countries is an essential reference source that discusses the challenges and strategies of waste management practices and the unique waste issues faced by developing countries that prevent them from achieving the goal of integrated waste management. While highlighting topics including e-waste, transboundary movement, and consumption patterns, this book is ideally designed for policymakers, legislators, waste company managers, environmentalists, students, academicians, and municipal planners seeking current research on the global waste management problem.

Sustainable Remediation of Contaminated Soil and Groundwater: Materials, Processes, and Assessment provides the remediation tools and techniques necessary for simultaneously saving time and money and maximizing environmental, social and economic benefits. The book integrates green materials, cleaner processes, and sustainability assessment methods for planning, designing and implementing a more effective remediation process for both soil and groundwater projects. With this book in hand, engineers will find a valuable guide to greener remediation materials that render smaller environmental footprint, cleaner processes that minimize secondary environmental impact, and sustainability assessment methods that can be used to guide the development of materials and processes.

Industry wastewater is a major contributor to environmental pollution with chemicals such as dyes, acids, fungicides, and more creating a threat to the environment. Nanocomposites of heterogeneous photocatalysis can be used to cure such problems due to its efficiency and ease of use, as well as the fact that it turns toxic chemicals completely to carbon dioxide and inorganic acids. With toxic chemicals posing a tremendous threat to ecological wellbeing and human health, it is integral that a variety of nanocomposites are studied for their use in the degradation of toxic and hazardous chemicals. Innovative Nanocomposites for the Remediation and Decontamination of Wastewater describes the synthesis of nanomaterials and its application for the protection of the environment. It presents studies on the photodegradation of the various toxic and hazardous chemicals by different nanocomposites, as well as the decontamination of bodies of water through the use of various nanocomposites. Covering topics such as dye degradation, novel biomaterials, and structural modification, this premier reference source is a vital resource for environmental scientists, construction managers, compliance officers, biochemists, biophysicists, conservation scientists, hydrologists, microbiologists, libraries, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

High-Risk Pollutants in Wastewater presents the basic knowledge regarding the diversity, concentrations, and health and environmental impacts of HRPs in municipal wastewater. The book summarizes information on the types (e.g. heavy metals, toxic organics and pathogens) and toxicities of HRPs in wastewater. In addition, it describes ecological and health hazards arising from the living things' direct/indirect contacts with the HRPs during their full lifecycles (generation, disposal, discharge and reuse) in wastewater or water environments. Sections cover the concepts of appropriate technology for HRP hazard/risk assessment and wastewater treatment/reuse and the issues of strategy and policy for increasing risk control coverage. Finally, the book focuses on the resolution of water quality monitoring, wastewater treatment and disposal problems in both developed and developing countries.

Beyond Decommissioning: The Reuse and Redevelopment of Nuclear Installations presents the most up-to-date research and guidance on the reuse and redevelopment of nuclear plants and sites. Consultant Michele Laraia extensively builds upon experience from the redevelopment of non-nuclear industrial sites, a technical field that has considerably predated nuclear applications, to help the reader gain a very thorough and practical understanding of the redevelopment opportunities for decommissioned nuclear sites. Laraia emphasizes the socioeconomic and financial benefits from very early planning for site reuse, including how to manage the decommissioning transition, anticipate financial issues, and effectively utilize available resources. With an increasing number of decommissioning projects being conducted worldwide, it is critical that knowledge gained by experts with hands-on experience is passed on to the younger generation of nuclear professionals. Besides, this book describes the experiences of non-nuclear organizations that have reutilized the human, financial, and physical site assets, with adaptations, for a new productive mission, making it a key reference for all parties associated with nuclear operation and decommissioning. Those responsible for nuclear operation and decommissioning are encouraged to incorporate site reuse within an integrated, beginning-to-end view of their projects. The book also appeals to nuclear regulators as it highlights more opportunities to complete nuclear decommissioning safely, speedily, and in the best interests of all concerned parties.

The Role of Ecosystem Services in Sustainable Food Systems reveals, in simple terms, the operational definition, concepts and applications of ecosystem services with a focus on sustainable food systems. The book presents case studies on both geographical and production system-wide considerations. Initial chapters discuss concepts, methodologies and the tools needed to understand ecosystem services in the broader food system. Middle and later chapters present different perspectives from case studies of ecosystem services derived from some of the key sustainable food production systems used by farmers, along with discussions on the challenges of deriving full benefits and how they can be overcome. Researchers, students, scientists, development practitioners and policymakers will welcome this reference as they continue their work related to sustainable food systems.

An Operations Guide to Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS): Making Sense of BSEE SEMS Regulations gives engineers and managers a vital tool to understand, prepare and manage SEMS audits before, during and after they are done. At the core of the book are 17 elements stemming from regulations which are broken down in parts to help management learn the compliance measures. Elements are supported by practical case studies that analyze past failures and lessons learned. A helpful glossary, abbreviations list and additional section of references give offshore engineers and operators clear-and-concise direction on how to perform key actions in SEMS audits.

Green Sustainable Processes for Chemical and Environmental Engineering and Science: Supercritical Carbon Dioxide as Green Solvent provides an in-depth review on the area of green processes for the industry, focusing on the separation, purification and extraction of medicinal, biological and bioactive compounds utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide as a green solvent and their applications in pharmaceuticals, polymers, leather, paper, water filtration, textiles and more. Chapters explore polymerization, polymer composite production, polymer blending, particle production, microcellular foaming, polymer processing using supercritical carbon dioxide, and a method for the production of micro- and nano-scale particles using supercritical carbon dioxide that focuses on the pharmaceutical industry. A brief introduction and limitations to the practical use of supercritical carbon dioxide as a reaction medium are also discussed, as are the applications of supercritical carbon dioxide in the semiconductor processing industry for wafer processing and its advantages and obstacles.

Evaluating Water Quality to Prevent Future Disasters, volume 11 in the Separation Science and Technology series, covers various separation methods that can be used to avoid water catastrophes arising from climate change, arsenic, lead, algal bloom, fracking, microplastics, flooding, glyphosphates, triazines, GenX, and oil contamination. This book provides a valuable resource that will help the reader solve their potential water contamination problems and help them develop their own new approaches to monitor water contamination.