Development of Noise Simulation Model for Stationary and Mobile Sources: A GIS-Based Approach

In the rapidly urbanizing country like India, the transportation sector is growing rapidly, which lead to overcrowded roads producing air and noise pollution. Noise of a particular region is influenced by the volume of traffic on the highway, in addition to other causative factors like existing infrastructure and industrial setup etc. In the present paper, a geographical information system (GIS)-based noise simulation model has been developed to generate noise levels in Versova region of Mumbai, India. The study area comprises effect of infrastructure, road network, traffic volume, and various mechanical components like sewage pumping station and wastewater treatment facility. Various meteorological parameters and effect of land use and land cover on noise attenuation are also considered in the model. In this way, commutative noise prediction for point as well as mobile sources has been presented in the study. GIS-based noise simulation has been calibrated with observed noise levels during day and night time with correlation of 0.84 and 0.74, respectively.     

The use of δ(15)N signatures of translocated macroalgae to map coastal nutrient plumes: improving species selection and spatial analysis of metropolitan datasets

The definition of the spatial footprint of land-derived nutrient plumes is a key element to the design of initiatives to combat eutrophication in urbanised coastal regions. These plumes, however, are difficult to monitor because of their inherent high-frequency temporal and spatial variability. Biomonitoring with macroalgae provides time-integration of bioavailable nitrogen inputs through the measurement of δ(15)N signatures in tissues, and adequate spatial coverage through translocation to desirable monitoring locations. In this study, we used laboratory incubations to compare three different species of macroalgae as bioindicators, and a field experiment to investigate the applicability of the technique for the large-scale mapping of nutrient plumes. Cladophora valonioides was selected for the field experiment as it showed rapid changes in δ(15)N values in the laboratory incubations, was abundant in shallow depths making collection cost-efficient, and had tough thalli capable of withstanding deployment in open water. Ecklonia radiata also performed well in the laboratory incubations, but field harvest from subtidal depths was comparatively more expensive. Ulva lactuca had fragile thalli, and large nitrogen reserves that acted to mask the isotopic signal of newly acquired nitrogen. Cladophora valonioides was translocated to 246 sites covering an area of ～445 km(2) along the highly urbanized temperate coast of Adelaide, South Australia. The resulting isotopic signatures of nitrogen in tissues were spatially interpolated to produce maps of land-derived nutrient plumes, to model probability and standard error in the predictive surface, and to optimize sampling design.     

Water quality assessment of river Hindon at Ghaziabad, India: impact of industrial and urban wastewater

Spontaneous combustion on industrial-scale stockpiles causes environmental problems and economic losses for the companies consuming large amounts of coal. In this study, an effective monitoring and prediction system based on internet was developed and implemented to prevent losses and environmental problems. The system was performed in a coal stockpile with 5 m width, 10 m length, 3 m height, and having 120 t of weight. The inner temperature data of the stockpile was recorded by 17 temperature sensors placed inside the stockpile at certain points. Additionally, the data relating to the air temperature, air humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind velocity, and wind direction that are the parameters affecting the coal stockpile were also recorded. The recorded values were analyzed with artificial neural network and Statistical modeling methods for prediction of spontaneous combustion. Real-time measurement values and model outputs were published with a web page on internet. The internet-based system can also provide real-time monitoring (combustion alarms, system status) and tele-controlling (Parameter adjusting, system control) through internet exclusively with a standard web browser without the need of any additional software.     

Post tsunami changes in soil properties of Andaman Islands, India

A post tsunami study was conducted to assess the changes in soil properties in the Andaman Island, in India. The present study reported tsunami led conversion of acid soils to saline acid soils and acid sodic soils to acid saline sodic soils in the areas South Andaman inundated during tsunami and permanently receded later and in the low-lying area submerged during high tides. Upon intense leaching acid saline soils and acid saline sodic may further develop typical characteristics of acidic soils and acidic sodic soil, respectively. The soil at Guptapara inundated almost due to tsunami with minimal pyrite oxidation has potential to develop into highly acidic soils upon drainage. The tsunami by and large has modified some depositional layer affecting the salt accumulation to a greater extent and iron to a lesser extent and least to sodicity.     

Was Mauritius really successful in banning plastic carry bags,after promulgation of the regulation prohibiting plastic bags usage?

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Plastic carry bags are increasingly seen as environmental hazards that threaten human and animal welfare, rather than being modern conveniences....     

Effect of heavy metals on earthworm activities during vermicomposting of municipal solid waste.

The effect of heavy metals on the activities of earthworm species Eudrillus eugineae was studied during vermicomposting of municipal solid waste (MSW) spiked with heavy metals. The activities of earthworms, in terms of growth and biomass production and number of cocoons produced, were monitored periodically, and the concentration of heavy metals in earthworms and substrates was determined at definite intervals. Laboratory-scale experiments were performed by mixing individual heavy metals in MSW. Copper, cadmium, chromium, lead, and zinc were selected for the study. The study concludes that heavy metals tend to accumulate in the body of earthworms; hence, the inherent concentration of heavy metals in the substrate before vermicomposting must be considered in view of composting of MSW and its application to soil. It was observed that copper and cadmium were toxic for the worms at 1.5 and 0.1 g/kg of the waste, respectively. The studies also suggest that earthworms are susceptible to the free form of heavy metals. Cadmium is the most toxic metal, followed by copper. Based on the investigation and observation, it was also found that earthworms should be separated from castings before the use of castings in soil amendments.     

Selenium status in food grains of northern districts of India

The selenium status in the food grains of the agricultural lands of northern parts of India was estimated by using the HG-AAS technique. The areas where lesser rains were received or less irrigation water was available in northern Indian states viz. Rajasthan and southern parts of the Haryana had higher selenium levels in food grains. Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and northern parts of the Haryana states had normal levels of selenium in their food grains, except for slightly lower selenium levels in a few areas that were affected by floods along the river Yamuna.     

Institutional development for sustainable rangeland resource and ecosystem management in mountainous areas of northern Nepal

Rangelands represent one of the most important natural resources in mountainous regions of northern Nepal. However, a poor understanding of the social dimensions of rangeland use has limited their proper management and sustainable development, which represent major challenges for Nepal's resource managers. Institutional development is thought to be a viable solution to this problem and may ultimately lead to improved rangeland management in Nepal. Based on this hypothesis, a study was conduced in the Rasuwa district of northern Nepal to examine the effectiveness of institutional development at the local and national levels in mitigating the problems facing sustainable rangeland management by using an institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework. The information and data were mainly collected from different stakeholders, farmers, professionals and practitioners using a toolkit of participatory rural appraisal (PRA), workshops and literature review. It can be concluded from this case study that a number of institutional development efforts are needed to promote sustainable rangeland management in this region. First, local herders represent a repository of rich indigenous knowledge essential to sustaining sound rangeland management practices; hence, indigenous practices need to be integrated into modern technologies. Second, public services and technical support are currently unavailable or inaccessible to local herders; hence, research, development and extension interventions need to be initiated for marginalized pastoral communities. Third, rangeland institutions are incomplete and ill-organized, so institutional development of various organizations is necessary for promoting sustainable rangeland management. Fourth, the policies and governance necessary for promoting rangeland management are not well-designed; hence, governance reform and policy development need to be formulated through internal and external agencies and organizations.