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Recognized by UGC with 2(f) & 12(B)
Accredited by NBA & NAAC

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
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MODULE 5
ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION MITIGATION
1
TOOLS
MODULE 5
 CONTENTS

Latest Developments in Environmental Pollution

Mitigation Tools (Concept and Applications):

G.I.S. & Remote Sensing, Environment Impact

Assessment, Environmental Management Systems,
ISO14001; Environmental Stewardship- NGOs.
 Introduction to GIS

• Human activities and global warming are rapidly contributing

to environmental degradation, decreasing glacier area, growth
in glacial lake size, unprecedented rainfall, changes in land
use and land cover, forest degradation, floods and glacial lake
outburst floods, landslides, and shortfalls in agricultural crop
production are among the many problems brought on by
environmental changes.
• These issues need timely monitoring and supervision.
Effective monitoring of the environment and an improved
understanding of the same requires valuable information and
data that can be extracted through application of geospatial
technologies such as remote sensing and GIS.
REMOTE SENSING AND
GIS APPLICATIONS
 REMOTE SENSING

 Information – Collection

– Interpretation

 No physical contact
 HISTORY OF REMOTE SENSING

 The invention of photography in 1839 made

remote sensing (eventually) possible.
 Remote sensing began in the 1860s as
balloonists took pictures of the Earth's surface.

 Pigeon fleets were another form of remote

sensing in the early years.

HISTORY OF REMOTE SENSING
HISTORY OF REMOTE SENSING
HISTORY OF REMOTE SENSING
HISTORY OF REMOTE SENSING
 RESOLUTION

 Spatial resolution (pixel size)

 Spectral resolution (wave length region)

 Temporal resolution (repetitive)

 Radio metric resolution (DN value)

100 meter resolution
30 meter resolution
5 meter resolution
 REMOTE SENSING PROCESS
OBSERVATIONS
 Sensor – Mounted on satellites
RECORDING
Photo film, Video tape, Magnetic tape TRACKING
ANTENNA AND COMMUNICATION LINK
 Ground station
 REMOTE SENSING PROCESS
RECEIVING STATIONS
PRE-PROCESS
 Corrections – Removal of
geometric
and radio- metric distortion
o Motion of platform
o Altitude
o Curvature of earth
o Non-uniformity of elevation
 REMOTE SENSING PROCESS

PROCESSING
Classification
FINAL DATA PRODUCT
 Digital Data
 FCC
 Satellite map
REMOTE SENSING PROCESS

Statement of Problem
 Identify
criteria
 Formula
te
Hypothe
sis
Data Acquisition
 Digital
data
 Purchas
e
Image Processing
A quality
 Select or
REMOTE SENSING PROCESS
A
Initial Display

Pre-processing
 Radio metric
correction
 Geometric
correction
Image Enhancement
 For further
digital analysis
 For

visual anlaysis
REMOTE SENSING PROCESS

GIS
 Quarries

Solve  Accept or reject the

hypothesis
GIS
GIS
GIS
GIS
What is GIS?
Geographic Information System
 Scope of GIS in Environment pollution
mitigation
• GIS can be used most effectively for environmental data analysis
and planning. It allows better viewing and understanding
physical features and the relationships that influence in a given
critical environmental condition. Factors, such as steepness of
slopes, aspects, and vegetation, can be viewed and overlaid to
determine various environmental parameters and impact analysis.
• GIS can also display and analyze aerial photographs. Digital
information can be overlaid on photographs to provide
environmental data analysts with more familiar views of
landscapes and associated data. GIS can provide a quick,
comparative view of hazards (highly prone areas) and risks (areas
of high risk which may occur) and areas to be safeguarded.
 Scope of GIS in Environment pollution
mitigation
• On completion of data analysis, GIS can help in effective
planning and managing the environmental hazards and risks.
In order to plan and monitor the environmental problems, the
assessment of hazards and risks becomes the foundation for
planning decisions and for mitigation activities. GIS supports
activities in environmental assessment, monitoring, and
mitigation and can also be used for generating environmental
models.
• GIS can aid in hazard mitigation and future planning, air
pollution & control, disaster management, forest fires
management, managing natural resources, wastewater
management, oil spills and its remedial actions etc.
Applications of GIS in Environment pollution mitigation
Applications of GIS in Environment pollution
mitigation
• Using GIS, preparations can be better, efforts can be more directed
and response can be faster. GIS enables the response teams to
gain situational awareness, engage with the public, and understand
the impact of the event. As GIS leads to better identification of the
affected areas and people, recovery becomes easier and faster.
• In the recent past, India has made great strides in the disaster alert
systems – be it cyclone alerts, regional tsunami warnings or heavy
rainfall/flood alert system. The Indian Tsunami Early Warning
Centre based in Hyderabad has been successful in delivering
accurate alerts. Due to timely predictions, preparations have been
better, even leading to timely evacuations and thus no loss of lives.
Applications of GIS in Environment pollution
mitigation
GIS in air quality monitoring
• Air quality monitoring has become an important part of healthy living,
and GIS can play a very important role here as well. A GIS integrated
platform by leveraging sensors and IoT for air quality monitoring,
analytics, and planning, can accurately predict the PM levels in varied
areas within a city.

• It can also tell you which areas are the most hazardous or most
dangerous for everyone, more specifically for asthma patients. This
analysis can help the field officers to take corrective action on time to
improve the air quality. Citizen engagement is also becoming an
important part of such applications. Using mobile apps, the citizens can
also make the authorities aware which areas need immediate attention.
Applications of GIS in Environment pollution
mitigation
GIS in forest fire management
• Wildfire causes huge loss to flora and fauna. The very first
strategy to defend the forests against wildfire is to avoid it.
GIS has proved its potential in forest fire management.
• There are different applications of GIS in forest fire
management out of which the most important ones are hazard
map production, forest fire simulation, and resource
management.
• Simulation by itself has a main role in the management of
forest fire. GIS uses various information layers such as Digital
Elevation Model (DEM) and index of flammability along with
different models for the purpose of forest fire management.
Applications of GIS in Environment pollution
mitigation
GIS in managing natural resources
• Data about natural resources could be collected through remote sensing,
aerial photography or satellite imagery and then they are mapped using
GIS technology. The major application of GIS in natural resource
management is in confronting environmental issues like a flood,
landslide, soil erosions, drought, earthquake etc.
• It also addresses the current problems of climate change, habitat loss,
population growth, pollution etc. and provides information about land
area change between time periods.
• The information obtained from GIS help to study specific areas and
monitoring can be done in and around those areas. It provides relevant
information about the environmental condition and policy, including
conservation programs. Maps in GIS provide the information of location
and current resources.
 Applications of Remote Sensing in
Environment pollution mitigation
• The environmental pollution and its monitoring is the matter
of concern for sustainable development. Conventionally
environmental pollution and planning is generally being
carried out in four phases, viz. monitoring, modeling,
development of decisions by planner and finally by execution.
• It has been found that remote sensing environmental pollution
monitoring equipment's have the capability to assess the
pollution status in the desired area that may be more beneficial
for environmental pollution management
 Applications of Remote Sensing in
Environment pollution mitigation
• Today there are number of satellites mapping the earth
constantly. In India, the National Remote Sensing Centre
(NRSC) is the focal point for distribution of remote sensing
satellite data products in India and its neighboring countries.
• NRSC has an earth station at Balanagar, about 55Km from
Hyderabad, to receive data from almost all contemporary
remote sensing satellites such as IRS-P5, IRS-P6, IRS-P4,
IRS-1D, IRS1C, IRS-P3, ERS-1/2, NOAA series, AQUA and
TERRA satellites
 Applications of Remote Sensing in
Environment pollution mitigation
• In addition to the above-mentioned satellites, ENVISAT,
OCEAN SAT, CARTOSAT, WiFS, LISS series, RADAR SAT
etc. are some more important satellites whose data is used for
the detection of environmental pollution. Following pictures
depicts recent tragic accident of the “Mumbai oil spilt” in the
Arabian Sea.
• Remote sensing data may be used for the study of water
quality, air quality, land use and land degradation, forest cover
change, fire detection etc. The remote sensing data is available
from NRSC at concessional rate as well as on Internet
(Download from Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF)).
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

•Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process which

ensures that all environmental matters are taken into account
quite early in the project at planning process itself.
•It takes into consideration not only technical and economic
considerations but also, traditional aspects like impact on local
people, biodiversity etc.
 Functions of Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA)
• EIA is intended to prevent or minimize potentially adverse
environmental impacts and enhance the overall quality of a
project.

• The main benefits and advantages of EIA are:

• Lower project costs in the long-term
• Increased project acceptance
• Improved project design
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Informed decision making

• Environmentally sensitive decisions
• Increased accountability and transparency
• Reduced environmental damage
• Improved integration of projects into their environmental and
social settings
 Type of projects under go EIA

• Agriculture
• Construction (Road networks, Malls, Townships, Dam etc)
• Industries
• Electrical projects
• Waste disposal
• Any developmental projects around Protected Areas / Nature
Preserves
• Clean Development Mechanism CDM projects
 The EIA Directive
• The EIA Directive requires projects likely to have significant
effects on the Environment by virtue of their nature, size or
location to undergo an environmental assessment before the
competent authority in question grants consent.

• The EIA Directive defines a project as the execution of

construction works or of other installations or schemes,
• other interventions in the natural surroundings and landscape
including those involving the extraction of mineral resources
 The EIA Directive
The EIA Directive
• The EIA should identify, describe and assess the direct and
indirect effects of a project on the following factors:
• Human beings
• Fauna and flora
• Soil, Water & Air
• Climate and the landscape
• Material Assets
• Cultural Heritage
• Interaction between all above factors
• EIA therefore should have a very strong social dimension
 History of EIA in India
• Started in 1976-77, when Planning Commission asked
Department of Science & Technology to examine River
Valley Projects from environmental angle
• Till 1994, Environmental Clearance from Central
Government was an administrative decision which lacked
legislative support.
• On 27th January 1994, Union Ministry of Environment &
Forests, GOI under Environment (Protection) Act 1986,
promulgated EIA notification making Environment clearance
mandatory for expansion or modernization of any activity or
for setting up new projects listed in Schedule one of the
notification, which have been amended more than 12 times.
 EIA Clearance required

• Total EIA clearance is required for 32 categories of

developmental works broadly categorized into following
industrial sectors:
• Mining
• Thermal power plant
• River valley
• Infrastructure (Road, highway, ports, harbor, airports,
• Industries including very small electroplating or foundry units)
• Certain activities permissible under Coastal Regulation Zone
Act 1991, also require similar clearance
 Environmental Management System

• A set of methods and procedures for aligning corporate

strategies, policies and operations with principles that protect
ecosystems.
• International Organization for standardization(ISO)14001
 The aim of EMS

• to increase compliance and reduce waste

• Compliance
• the act of reaching and maintaining minimal legal standards

• Reduce Waste
• to reduce environmental impact
 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR
STADARDIZATION
• In September 1996, Standardization published the first edition
of ISO 14001, the EMS standard.

• describing specific requirements for an EMS.

• A second edition of ISO 14001 was published in 2004

• the dominant environmental management system in the

world.
EMS Model or PDCA Cycle
 EMS Model or PDCA Cycle

Act Policy Plan

Policy
Policy

Implement
Checking ation &
Check Operation
Do
 PLAN

• Identify Environmental Aspects

• E.g. air pollutants
• Determine most important to company
• E.g. worker health & safety
• Legal and Other Requirements
• Objectives and Targets
• E.g. Objectives – Overall Goal, e.g. minimize use Target –
Detailed, Quantified, e.g. minimize by 10% by specific date
• Management Actions to Support Objectives and Targets
 DO

• Structure
• Training, Awareness
• Communication
• EMS Documentation
• Document Control
• Operational Control
• Emergency Preparedness and Response
 Check

• Monitoring and Measurement

• Nonconformance, Corrective and Preventative Action
• Records
 ACT

• EMS Audits
• Management Review
• This final review stage creates a loop of continuous
improvement for a company
Environmental Management System (EMS)

Other Environmental Program Management

 Benefits of EMS

• Drives Sustained Performance

• Set targets to reduce energy use, water use & waste to landfill
• Achieve cost savings
• Easier compliance
• Pollution prevention
• Increased efficiency
• Improved morale
 ISO 14001

• ISO 14001 is the

international standard that
specifies requirements for an
effective environmental
management system (EMS).
• It provides a framework that
an organization can follow,
rather than establishing
environmental performance
requirements
 Environmental stewardship

Environmental stewardship can be defined as “the

responsible use (including conservation) of natural resources in a
way that takes full and balanced account of the interests of
society, future generations, and other species, as well as of
private needs, and accepts significant answerability to society”
 History of Environmental Stewardship

The topic of stewardship entered public consciousness in

the middle of the last century in the works of writers such as
Aldo Leopard (A Sand Country Almanac), Garret Hardin (The
Tragedy of the Commons), and Rachel Carson (Silent Spring).
Building on this growing consciousness, the concept of
sustainability and sustainable development was introduced.
 Environmental stewardship- Need

Experts around the world agree that the need for

stewardship has never been greater, as there exists
overwhelming evidence that the environment is being
irrevocably damaged by human actions.
Climate change caused by increased greenhouse gas
emissions (World Tourism Organization, 2008a) and the loss
of biodiversity due to declining habitat loss are just two
compelling issues.
 Stewardship actions

The activities, behaviours, decisions, and technologies

carried out by stewards--individuals, groups, or networks of actors
Our framework for integrating stewardship actions into
education programs has five categories:

 Restoration and Protection

 Everyday Choices
 Community Awareness
 Civic Action
 Stewardship Science
 Restoration and Protection
• Actions that assist in the recovery or preservation of an ecosystem
that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed and allow that
ecosystem to evolve with minimal human influence.
• The following examples are actions that lead to improved
biodiversity or ecosystem health.
Clean up litter at local beaches, parks, or school grounds
Assist local estuaries, parks, or other natural areas with
planting or restoring protective vegetation or trees
Restore a local habitat
Remove invasive plants
 Everyday Choices
• Actions that reduce resource inputs and emissions per unit of output through
technological change and consumer purchasing, use and disposal behaviors

• The following examples are actions that lead to reduced carbon footprint or
use of natural resources.

 Start or expand a recycling program at home or school and measure

the effect of the change
 Monitor and save water in the face of potential drought or reduction
in available water
 Upcycle discarded materials
 Compost food or yard waste
 Reduce waste in a cafeteria and measure the impacts to the school or
local community
 Community Awareness
• Actions that inform others in an effort to convince them to take
action to address community-level environmental issues

• The following examples are actions that lead to increased

awareness by community members.

 Giving presentations to local organizations

 Sharing information on social media
 Organizing community events
 Recording and broadcasting public service
announcements
 Civic Action
• Actions that inform public or organizational policy decisions
that can improve environmental outcomes for many people or
organizations at once.
• The following examples are actions that lead to an
environmental policy or rule for an organization or
community.
 Speaking or presenting at town meetings
 Voting for legislation or candidates
 Writing to elected officials or decision makers
 Meeting with elected officials
 Stewardship Science
• Actions that collect and report monitoring data in an
ecosystem that inform management of the natural resource.
• The following example is action that contribute data to
environmental monitoring efforts.
Extend student learning beyond the classroom with a citizen
science monitoring project that impacts the species or
environmental concern students are studying
 NGOs
• Organizations which are independent of government
involvement are known as non-governmental organizations
• NGOs are a subgroup of organizations founded by citizens,
which include clubs and associations that provide services to
their members and others.
• NGOs are usually nonprofit organizations, and many of them
are active in humanitarianism or the social sciences.
• Surveys indicate that NGOs have a high degree of public trust,
which can make them a useful proxy for the concerns of
society and stakeholders.
Environmental Non-governmental Organization

• An ENGO (environmental non-governmental organization) is

a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the field of
environmentalism.
• These organizations operate both locally and internationally
which makes them play an important role in dealing with
different kinds of environmental issues that are happening in
the contemporary world.
 Main goals of environmental NGOs
• Creating relationships with the government and other
organizations,
• Offering training and assistance in agricultural conservation to
maximize the use of local resources,
• Establishing environmental solutions, and managing projects
implemented to address issues affecting a particular area.
• To fully understand the social, economic, and environmental
effects that the organization can have on a region, it is also
important to note that the organization can act outside the
formal processes what state governments and other
government institutions must comply with.
 Five Growing NGOs Protecting Our
Environment
1. EcoDrive
2. International Women Association Kep
3. Terra Conscious
4. Conflict and Environment Observatory
5. Climate Conversations
 EcoDrive

• EcoDrive is a Hong Kong-based organization that seeks to

raise awareness of the dangers of single-use plastic.
• Through educating at schools, panels and presentations, the 11
women that founded this organization seek to reduce plastic
use in their country.
• They also reach out to corporate offices to educate people in
the workplace and how that reduction can lead to a cleaner
city.
 International Women Association Kep

• A prime example of how political, social and environmental

elements add up is through the results of the work from IWA
Kep.
• This NGO is a Swiss non-profit that helps women in
Cambodia locate jobs in the plastic recycling industry.
• In the Kep Province, some women have difficulty finding a
well-paying position.
• IWA Kep helps these women financially and creatively.
 Terra Conscious

In western India, the state of Goa offers many beautiful

attractions like the beaches, temples and wildlife.
That's why Terra Conscious operates as a marine conservation
organization out of the northern part of the area.
With community engagement and partnerships, the organization
seeks to foster a better relationship between people and their
social impact.
 Conflict and Environment Observatory
• CEOBS offers a unique look into the negative consequences
military conflicts have on the environment and how it affects
civilians.
• CEOBS provides a compelling look at how to raise awareness
and take action.
• The volunteers report on environmental impacts from armed
conflicts; plus, they speak out against any military or political
regulations that have humanitarian or ecological
consequences.
 Climate Conversations

In a broader perspective, climate change affects the entire world.

From forest fires in California and Australia, to greenhouse gas
emissions and energy consumption, the environment requires
attention from everyone.
Climate Conversations takes the lead in starting dialogues that
spread awareness and reach people from continent to continent.
The organization offers outreach programs for anyone to take
advantage of.
 NGOs- Need

• NGOs have been around for many years and strive for the
global change that we need.
• While some have significant resources, most others need
funding by donations and volunteers to do their work.
• With scientists predicting imminent environmental dangers,
the time for action has never been more pressing.
• World NGO Day, observed annually on 27 February, was
recognised on 17 April 2010
 References

• http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/travis-perkins
• http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Utility
%20Services/Environme
ntal%20Services/PublishingImages/PlanDoCheckAct.jpg
• http://www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk/responsibility/
environment.aspx
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Environmental_management_system
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
List_of_International_Organization_for_Stan
dardization_standards
• http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=31807
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