Developing environmental sensing and monitoring technologies become essential especially for industries that may cause severe contamination. Intelligent environmental sensing uses novel sensor techniques, intelligent signal and data processing algorithms, and wireless sensor networks to enhance environmental sensing and monitoring. It finds applications in many environmental problems such as oil and gas, water quality, and agriculture. This book addresses issues related to three main approaches to intelligent environmental sensing and discusses their latest technological developments. Key contents of the book include: Agricultural monitoring Classification, detection, and estimation Data fusion Geological monitoring Motor monitoring Multi-sensor systems Oil reservoirs monitoring Sensor motes Water quality monitoring Wireless sensor network protocol.

This book presents quality technical papers representing the recent developments in the field of hydrological modeling, water management and water governance including practical applications. The content covers multifarious aspects of hydrology and water resources. It includes an application of the Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) which has been successfully demonstrated for assessment of floods. The authors suggest an approach for the mitigation of cyclone disaster through a case study of the Phailin cyclone, whilst considering mitigating pluvial flooding, developing suitable management strategies. The book includes chapters discussing the detrended fluctuation analysis which is carried out for multifractal description of droughts. Drought characteristics are analyzed, and drought indices evolved for drought preparedness/management. The use of science in community planning under changing climate is also studied and discussed. The authors present and experimental study wherein hydraulic coefficients are calibrated by using vertical orifice. A cross flow hybrid hydrokinetic turbine is also evaluated for performance, and high head regulating radial gate designed and studied its sensitivity. This book will appeal to researchers, field practitioners, NGO and other Governmental as well as private water practitioners

Data Treatment in Environmental Sciences presents the various methods used in the analysis of databases-obtained in the field or in a laboratory-by focusing on the most commonly used multivariate analyses in different disciplines of environmental sciences, from geochemistry to ecology. The book examines the principles, application conditions and implementation (in R software) of various analyses before interpreting them. The wide variety of analyses presented allows users to treat datasets, both large and small, which are often limited in terms of available processing techniques. The approach taken by the author details (i) the preparation of a dataset prior to analysis, in relation to the scientific strategy and objectives of the study, (ii) the preliminary treatment of datasets, (iii) the establishment of a structure of objects (stations/dates) or relevant variables (e.g. physicochemical, biological), and (iv) how to highlight the explanatory parameters of these structures (e.g. how the physico-chemistry influences the biological structure obtained).

This book results from a NATO Advanced Research Workshop titled "Technological Innovations in CBRNE Sensing and Detection for Safety, Security, and Sustainability" held in Yerevan, Armenia in 2012. The objective was to discuss and exchange views as to how fusion of advanced technologies can lead to improved sensors/detectors in support of defense, security, and situational awareness. The chapters range from policy and implementation, advanced sensor platforms using stand-off (THz and optical) and point-contact methods for detection of chemical, nuclear, biological, nuclear and explosive agents and contaminants in water, to synthesis methods for several materials used for sensors. In view of asymmetric, kinetic, and distributed nature of threat vectors, an emphasis is placed to examine new generation of sensors/detectors that utilize an ecosystems of innovation and advanced sciences convergence in support of effective counter-measures against CBRNE threats. The book will be of considerable interest and value to those already pursuing or considering careers in the field of nanostructured materials, and sensing/detection of CBRNE agents and water-borne contaminants. For policy implementation and compliance standpoint, the book serves as a resource of several informative contributions. In general, it serves as a valuable source of information for those interested in how nanomaterials and nanotechnologies are advancing the field of sensing and detection using nexus of advanced technologies for scientists, technologists, policy makers, and soldiers and commanders.

This volume is devoted to compiling recent advancements, methodological improvements, new processing techniques, integration methods and rigorous applications associated with conceptual techniques on the conservation and monitoring of forest resources for a scientific audience, with a focus on cases and applications in India. The primary objective of the book is to advance the scientific understanding of the recent trends and technological improvements in forest conservation, management and related research themes in forest resources and human-wildlife interactions. The book is organized into five sections: (I) Forest Conservation Ecology (II) Forest Conservation and Society (III) Forest Management (IV) Forest Monitoring using GIS and Remote Sensing and (V) Human Wildlife Conflicts. It covers various research themes related to forestry, wildlife, habitat fragmentation, forest management and human-wildlife conflict research, and therefore will be beneficial to a diverse range of researchers, scientific organizations, wildlife scientists, biologists, ecologists and planners in the fields of wildlife and forestry. The book will further be of use to post-graduates, PhD research scholars, professors, geospatial experts, modellers, foresters, agricultural scientists, biologists, ecologists, environmental consultants and big data compilers.

This book presents a case study-based analysis of the consequences of external interventions, critically evaluating them from community perspectives. Communities - from rural to urban, and around the world - that are experiencing disasters and changes in climatic variables can perceive the associated risks and evaluate the impacts of interventions. Accordingly, community perspectives, including their perceptions, concerns, awareness, realizations, reactions and expectations, represent a valuable resource. The case-based analysis of impacts on communities can provide a 'means of learning' from the experiences of others, thus expanding professionals' knowledge base, especially regarding disaster mitigation and climate change adaptation practices in varied settings. This book offers valuable insights and lessons learned, in an effort to promote and guide innovative changes in the current planning, management and governance of human settlements, helping them face the future challenges of a changing environment.

This book introduces readers to environmental background investigation, pollution source intensity evaluation and risk assessment approaches used at three main types of groundwater-contaminated sites: municipal domestic waste landfills, hazardous waste landfills and oil-contaminated sites. In addition, typical contaminated sites throughout China are examined to demonstrate how these approaches can be applied for their investigation, assessment and restoration. By reading this book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the restoration and management of typical groundwater-contaminated sites.

This book addresses disaster and disaster risk reduction (DRR) practices, constraints and capacity in the context of coastal Bangladesh. Located in the lower riparian of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has to face frequent disasters such as floods, cyclones, river erosion, salinity intrusion as well as drought. Drawing together a range of multidisciplinary perspectives, Coastal Disaster Risk Management in Bangladesh explores the connection between climate change and DRR issues in this region. The editors reorganize disaster studies around social and physical changes that can reduce these risks and put at risk populations on a stronger footing by making risk reduction the focus. These include measures to improve disaster preparedness, to boost recovery by creating better disaster planning and programs, and physical and social initiatives to improve disaster resilience. Also, analyzing the gender perspective, the volume also utilizes the local knowledge framework to consider whether these populations have resilient knowledge that needs to be incorporated into initiatives based on advanced technology and perspectives. This book will be of interest to academics, researchers, students, policymakers and practitioners in the field of disaster, DRR and governance, climate change, climate change adaptation (CCA) and the environment.

This book addresses disaster and disaster risk reduction (DRR) practices, constraints and capacity in the context of coastal Bangladesh. Located in the lower riparian of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has to face frequent disasters such as floods, cyclones, river erosion, salinity intrusion as well as drought. Drawing together a range of multidisciplinary perspectives, Coastal Disaster Risk Management in Bangladesh explores the connection between climate change and DRR issues in this region. The editors reorganize disaster studies around social and physical changes that can reduce these risks and put at risk populations on a stronger footing by making risk reduction the focus. These include measures to improve disaster preparedness, to boost recovery by creating better disaster planning and programs, and physical and social initiatives to improve disaster resilience. Also, analyzing the gender perspective, the volume also utilizes the local knowledge framework to consider whether these populations have resilient knowledge that needs to be incorporated into initiatives based on advanced technology and perspectives. This book will be of interest to academics, researchers, students, policymakers and practitioners in the field of disaster, DRR and governance, climate change, climate change adaptation (CCA) and the environment.

This book provides readers with a broad understanding of the fundamental principles driving atmospheric flow over complex terrain and provides historical context for recent developments and future direction for researchers and forecasters. The topics in this book are expanded from those presented at the Mountain Weather Workshop, which took place in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, August 5-8, 2008. The inspiration for the workshop came from the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Mountain Meteorology Committee and was designed to bridge the gap between the research and forecasting communities by providing a forum for extended discussion and joint education. For academic researchers, this book provides some insight into issues important to the forecasting community. For the forecasting community, this book provides training on fundamentals of atmospheric processes over mountainous regions, which are notoriously difficult to predict. The book also helps to provide a better understanding of current research and forecast challenges, including the latest contributions and advancements to the field.

The book begins with an overview of mountain weather and forecasting chal- lenges specific to complex terrain, followed by chapters that focus on diurnal mountain/valley flows that develop under calm conditions and dynamically-driven winds under strong forcing. The focus then shifts to other phenomena specific to mountain regions: Alpine foehn, boundary layer and air quality issues, orographic precipitation processes, and microphysics parameterizations. Having covered the major physical processes, the book shifts to observation and modelling techniques used in mountain regions, including model configuration and parameterizations such as turbulence, and model applications in operational forecasting. The book concludes with a discussion of the current state of research and forecasting in complex terrain, including a vision of how to bridge the gap in the future.

This book discusses and studies the basic course of ecological civilization construction in the 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China and summarizes the experience and lessons. It contains 75 articles from 75 top experts and government officials in the field of ecological civilization policy-making and basic theory research in China, including Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, ecological culture, green industry economy, environmental quality, legal system, ecological security and so on, so as to provide reference for understanding and studying the progress of ecological environment protection since the founding of China.

Global Bioethanol: Evolution, Risks, and Uncertainties explores the conceptual and methodological approaches for the understanding of bioethanol technologies, policies and future perspectives. After a decade of huge investments made by big companies and governments all around the world, it is time to talk about the real conditions in which bioethanol will (or will not) evolve. Uncertainties and certainties are discussed and addressed to understand the futures of global bioethanol. The book analyses the evolution of bioethanol in the world's energy mix under technological, economic and commercial perspectives. It gives particular emphasis on the innovative trajectories of second-generation ethanol and their potential in different countries and regions. Future scenarios are proposed in order to evaluate the possible outcomes of ethanol in a global perspective. For providing a thorough overview of the bioethanol sector from different points of view, this book is a very useful resource for all involved with biofuels in general and bioethanol in particular, including energy engineers, researchers, consultants, analysts and policy makers.

This book documents the state of the art in the use of remote sensing to address time-sensitive information requirements. Specifically, it brings together a group of authors who are both researchers and practitioners, who work toward or are currently using remote sensing to address time-sensitive information requirements with the goal of advancing the effective use of remote sensing to supply time-sensitive information. The book addresses the theoretical implications of time-sensitivity on the remote sensing process, assessments or descriptions of methods for expediting the delivery and improving the quality of information derived from remote sensing, and describes and analyzes time-sensitive remote sensing applications, with an emphasis on lessons learned. This book is intended for remote sensing scientists, practitioners (e.g., emergency responders or administrators of emergency response agencies), and students, but will also be of use to those seeking to understand the potential of remote sensing to address a range of pressing issues, particularly natural and anthropogenic hazard response.

The introduction of contaminants, due to rapid urbanisation and anthropogenic activities, into the environment causes unsteadiness, distress to the physico-chemical systems including living organisms, which possibly is threatening the dynamics of nature as well as the soil biology by producing certain xenobiotics. Hence, there is an immediate global demand for the diminution of such contaminants and xenobiotics which can otherwise adversely affect the living organisms. Some toxic xenobiotics include synthetic organochlorides such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and some fractions of crude oil and coal. The advancements in microbiology and biotechnology has lead to the launch of microbial biotechnology as a separate area of research and contributed dramatically to the development of the areas like agriculture, environment, biopharmaceutics, fermented foods, etc. The evolution of new metabolic pathways from natural metabolic cycles has enabled the microorganisms to degrade almost all different complex and resistant xenobiotics found on Earth. Hence, microbes stand an imperative, efficient, green and economical alternative to conventional treatment technologies. This book comprises chapters dealing with various bioremediation strategies with the help of different groups of microorganisms along with detailed graphical/ diagrammatical representations. It also focuses on the use of microbial biotechnology and highlights the recent developments in microbial biotechnology in the area of agriculture and environment. Furthermore, it contains a detailed comprehensive account for the microbial treatment technologies from unsustainable to sustainable which includes chapters prepared by professionals, several researchers, scientists, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across the world with expertise in environmental microbiology, biotechnology, bioremediation, and environmental engineering. The research presented also highlights some of the significantly important microbial species involved in remediation, the physiology, biochemistry and the mechanisms of remediation by various microbes, and suggestions for future improvement of bioremediation technology. This book would serve as a quick reference book for graduate and postgraduate students pursuing their study in any branch of life sciences, microbiology, health sciences and environmental biotechnology as well as researchers and scientists working in laboratories and industries involved in research related to microbiology, environmental biotechnology and allied researches.

This open access book is a pedagogical, examples-based guide to using the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP (R)) code for nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation applications. The MCNP code, general-purpose software for particle transport simulations, is widely used in the field of nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation for numerous applications including detector design and calibration, and the study of scenarios such as measurement of fresh and spent fuel. This book fills a gap in the existing MCNP software literature by teaching MCNP software usage through detailed examples that were selected based on both student feedback and the real-world experience of the nuclear safeguards group at Los Alamos National Laboratory. MCNP input and output files are explained, and the technical details used in MCNP input file preparation are linked to the MCNP code manual. Benefiting from the authors' decades of experience in MCNP simulation, this book is essential reading for students, academic researchers, and practitioners whose work in nuclear physics or nuclear engineering is related to non-proliferation or nuclear safeguards. Each chapter comes with downloadable input files for the user to easily reproduce the examples in the text.

Applied Drought Modelling, Prediction, and Mitigation provides a practical guide to new and recent methodologies for drought characterizations, change modeling, down-scaling, and future predictions. The modeling procedures covered by the book include recent advancements in regional drought extent, coverage, intensity, and water deficit predictions, which are increasingly significant given current climate change impacts on water resources. Each modeling procedure is explained theoretically prior to the mathematical derivation, and includes book examples, exercises, and case studies that supplement the applied and practical material, thus making the approaches accessible and applicable to the reader.

This book is about the varied range of emerging applications using specially trained detection dogs to monitor and protect aquatic ecosystems, animals, plants and related resources. Featuring contributions from those at the forefront of converging disciplines ranging from canine training, ecological and biological monitoring, water resource management, law enforcement, and eco-toxicology, it addresses everyone already immersed in these or related fields, and anyone seeking to gain a broader understanding of them. Chapters cover several common themes including monitoring presence/absence through biological and ecological surveys; maintaining and evaluating water quality; law enforcement and anti-poaching initiatives; public education, awareness and compliance; standards and best practices; optimal uses of dogs in relation to and in conjunction with other available tools and pragmatic considerations for selecting and working with dogs and handlers. The aim of the book is to stimulate new ideas, promote the sharing and dissemination of information and findings - and, ideally, to catalyze new and innovative partnerships, to strengthen the preservation and conservation of our aquatic heritage.

Access, distribution and processing of Geographic Information (GI) are basic preconditions to support strategic environmental decision-making. The heterogeneity of information on the environment today available is driving a wide number of initiatives, on both sides of the Atlantic, all advocating both the strategic role of proper management and processing of environme- related data as well as the importance of harmonized IT infrastructures designed to better monitor and manage the environment. The extremely wide range of often multidimensional environmental information made available at the global scale poses a great challenge to technologists and scientists to find extremely sophisticated yet effective ways to provide access to relevant data patterns within such a vast and highly dynamic information flow. In the past years the domain of 3D scientific visualization has developed several solutions designed for operators requiring to access results of a simulation through the use of 3D visualization that could support the understanding of an evolving phenomenon. However 3D data visualization alone does not provide model and hypothesis-making neither it provide tools to validate results. In order overcome this shortcoming, in recent years scientists have developed a discipline that combines the benefits of data mining and information visualization, which is often referred to as Visual Analytics (VA).

This book is an overview of current state of the art about monitoring of inundation events through remote sensing. A complete approach to efficient and precise flood monitoring requires multiple fields of expertise, from image processing to hydrologic monitoring. This volume details the latest remote sensing techniques for flood monitoring and mapping, including use of optical data from geostationary sensors and LEO spacecraft, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data analysis, and data fusion. Detailed case studies from a variety of subject experts illustrate these tools and techniques. Accurate monitoring of flood events is increasingly necessary to gain insight about both causes and remedies. Floods are one of the most destructive hazards to the human populations, they can occur practically everywhere on the Earth surface, and each year cause considerable harm and damage to infrastructures. The recent Flood directive in European Countries is contributing to a more quantitative approach to flood hazard and risk evaluation.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Antarctica is poised at the edge of a warmer and busier world. Leading Antarctic researchers examine the needs and challenges of Antarctic environmental management today and tomorrow. Through: (i) investigating the impacts of human activities on specific ecosystems and species, (ii) examining existing environmental management and monitoring practices in place in various regions and (iii) interrogating stakeholders, they address the following questions: What future will Business-As-Usual bring to the Antarctic environment? Will a Business-As-Usual future be compatible with the objectives set out under the Antarctic Treaty, especially its Protocol on Environmental Protection? What actions are necessary to bring about alternative futures for the next 50 years? This volume is an outcome of the International Polar Year (2007-2009) Oslo Science Conference (8-12, June, 2010).

The book provides a cross-sectoral, multi-scale assessment of development-directed investigations in the main rivers of wider Central Asia and Afghanistan. The book highlights the development of river systems, water reservoirs, ecosystems and risks as well as the impact of climate change on water resources in Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. It provides information on the genesis of river basins, physical and chemical properties of water in rivers, and the hydrological regimes of the rivers of Central Asia and Afghanistan. The book is useful for scientists and researchers whose work focuses on rivers and the use of water resources, irrigation, ecosystems, risks, water supply, climate change and remote sensing, as well as for students and planners, administrations and other stakeholders in the water sector.

This book examines Malaysia's ambitious reform agenda and educational landscape, drawing upon the eleven key shifts in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025. It provides a comprehensive plan for a rapid and sustainable transformation of the Malaysian education system, and what is needed in shaping the educational reforms in Malaysia, especially post-COVID, through to 2025. The contributors to this volume - scholars, researchers and practitioners who possess a deep and embedded understanding of Malaysian education - focus on the interplay of prevailing and persistent problems, and what is needed in shaping the educational reforms in Malaysia. As a critical assessment of the Malaysian Education Blueprint reform efforts and policies, this edited book will be of particular interest to educators, scholars, and policymakers on the latest trends and challenges in Malaysian education policy.

Covers computational approaches as applied to problems in the air and water pollution domain Delivers generic methods of modeling with spatio-temporal analyses using soft computation and programming paradigms Includes theoretical aspects of environmental processes with their complexity and programmable mathematical approaches Adopts a realistic approach involving formulas, algorithms and techniques to establish mathematical models/computations Provides a pathway for real-time implementation of complex modeling problems formulations including case studies

Soundscape Ecology represents a new branch of ecology and it is the result of the integration of different disciplines like Landscape ecology, Bioacoustics, Acoustic ecology, Biosemiotics, etc. The soundscape that is the object of this discipline, is defined as the acoustic context resulting from natural and human originated sounds and it is considered a relevant environmental proxy for animal and human life. With Soundscape Ecology Almo Farina means to offer a new cultural tool to investigate a partially explored component of the environmental complexity. For this he intends to set the principles of this new discipline, to delineate the epistemic domain in which to develop new ideas and theories and to describe the necessary integration with all the other ecological/environmental disciplines. The book is organized in ten chapters. The first two chapters delineate principles and theory of soundscape ecology. Chapters three and four describe the bioacoustic and communication theories. Chapter five is devoted to the human dimension of soundscape. Chapters six to eight regard the major sonic patterns like noise, choruses and vibrations. Chapter nine is devoted to the methods in soundscape ecology and finally chapter ten describes the application of the soundscape analysis.

Today more than 5 million chemicals are known and roughly 100,000 of them are frequently used, with both numbers rising. Many of these chemicals are ultimately released into the environment and may cause adverse effects to ecosystems and human health. Effect-directed analysis (EDA) is a promising tool for identifying predominant toxicants in complex, mostly environmental mixtures combining effect testing, fractionation and chemical analysis. In the present book leading experts in the field provide an overview of relevant approaches and tools used in EDA. This includes diagnostic biological tools, separation techniques and advanced analytical and computer tools for toxicant identification and structure elucidation. Examples of the successful application of EDA are discussed such as the identification of mutagens in airborne particles and sediments, of endocrine disruptors in aquatic ecosystems and of major toxicants in pulp and paper mill effluents. This book is a valuable, comprehensive and interdisciplinary source of information for environmental scientists and environmental agencies dealing with the analysis, monitoring and assessment of environmental contamination.