Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering

<p>Shiv Nadar University is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric University offering a full range of academic programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, the University comprises of academic wings, sophisticated labs, international standard sports facilities, amphitheaters, auditorium, conference rooms and smart classrooms. The University&rsquo;s goal is to become internationally recognized for the quality of its research and creative endeavors and their applicability to improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity. Committed to excellence in teaching, research and service, the University aims to serve the higher education needs of India and the world beyond.</p>

Shiv Nadar University

This study focus on the biomass estimation of Sariska Wildlife Reserve using forest inventory and geospatial approaches to develop a model based on the statistical correlation between biomass measured at plot level and the associated spectral characteristics. The multistage statistical technique with incorporated the satellite data of IRS P-6 LISS III gives a precise estimation of biomass. Forest cover, forest stratum, and biomass maps were generated in the study. Spectral signatures along with tonal and textural variations were used to classify different forest types validated with GPS and ground truth data. Altitude dependent vegetation and contour information from toposheets were also considered while classifying imagery during interpretation. Sample plots were laid in study area with 0.1 ha area at intersect of the diagonals of the plots. DBH and height of all the trees inside the plot were measured and converted to biomass using volumetric equations depending upon specific gravity. The specific gravity of each tree species differ from each other and sometimes unique in different regions and varies from forest type of different regions. Estimation of tree biomass can serve as useful benchmark for future studies in related areas. Linear equation obtained was used as the model to generate final biomass map where predicted and estimated biomass were compared for each band of the satellite imageries. Linear, logarithm and power exponential models were compared to each other for correlation coefficient. Correlation between estimated and predicted AGB is 0.835 and coefficient of determination (r 2) value is 0.698. © 2008-2012 IEEE.

World University root node

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing

Geospatial strategy for tropical forest-wildlife reserve biomass estimation

This paper presents the implementation of a Geospatial approach for improving the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal suitability site assessment in growing urban environment. The increasing trend of population growth and the absolute amounts of waste disposed of worldwide have increased substantially reflecting changes in consumption patterns, consequently worldwide. MSW is now a bigger problem than ever. Despite an increase in alternative techniques for disposing of waste, land-filling remains the primary means. In this context, the pressures and requirements placed on decision makers dealing with land-filling by government and society have increased, as they now have to make decisions taking into considerations environmental safety and economic practicality. The waste disposed by the municipal corporation in the Bhagalpur City (India) is thought to be different from the landfill waste where clearly scientific criterion for locating suitable disposal sites does not seem to exist. The location of disposal sites of Bhagalpur City represents the unconsciousness about the environmental and public health hazards arising from disposing of waste in improper location. Concerning about urban environment and health aspects of people, a good method of waste management and appropriate technologies needed for urban area of Bhagalpur city to improve this trend using Multi Criteria Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing for selection of suitable disposal sites. The purpose of GIS was to perform process to part restricted to highly suitable land followed by using chosen criteria. GIS modeling with overlay operation has been used to find the suitability site for MSW. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Geospatial strategy for sustainable management of municipal solid waste for growing urban environment

Indian Journal of Forestry

Effect of seasonal variation, leafage and size on mineral contents in the leaves of Albizia chinensis.

Purpose: The purpose of study is linked to management and policy-making strategies, such as forest management, land use planning and sustainable management of natural resources. It aims to help prevent forest fire by taking precautions. It also aims to be helpful for authorities coping during the event of occurrence of fire. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology paradigm applied here is based on knowledge-based and analytic hierarchy process(AHP)techniques. Knowledge-based criteria involve topographic and different themes for risk assessment. The assignment of value given to equation is significant due to its importance. Findings: Results are in strong agreement with actual fire occurrences in the past years. The risk zones are identified according to past occurrence of fire. The gradients of low- to high-risk zones are according to fuel, topographic features and weather conditions. Direction and aspect value were taken accordingly. Originality/value: The paper presents forest fire risk zones designed on knowledge-based information. Crisp and fuzzy AHP approaches were applied to improve the efficacy of the model. The mapping results were in accordance with actual fire occurrences in the past years. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Fulltext

Disaster Prevention and Management

Fuzzy AHP for forest fire risk modeling

During the flood of 2001 in the Kosi River, a large portion of the river bank along the Western Kosi Main Canal (WKMC) between chainage 0.00 km and 4.237 km was damaged. The spur at chainage 2.25 km along the western flood embankment located near WKMC was also damaged during the flood of 2002. The Kosi Barrage Gate Regulation Committee in May 2003 inspected these sites and requested the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, to conduct model studies of Kosi River for effective river training works. This article describes the distorted hydraulic model studies conducted on the existing mobile bed model of Kosi River at CWPRS Pune with horizontal scale 1/500 and vertical scale 1/70. The results indicated that two spurs, one located at chainage 3.5 km and another at chainage 3.75 km, along the WKMC would help to deflect the flow away from the bank and reduce the flow concentration on the existing spur at chainage 2.25 km of Western Flood Embankment. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

ISH Journal of Hydraulic Engineering

Experimental study on performance of spurs

Land consumption is increasing rapidly with the exponential growth of population. The built-up environment configuration influences the management processes for development and other municipality works. Population growth also affects the availability of land for different purposes in its spatial distribution. The present study was conducted using satellite remote sensing data Landsat MSS (Multi-spectral Scanner), ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper), IRS P-6 (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite), LISS IV (Linear Imaging Self-Scanner), and IRS P-5 Cartosat-1 for the assessment of urban area change dynamics between years 1976 and 2008 in Bhagalpur city in the state of Bihar in India. The ground truth and coordinate points were collected using a Global Positioning System (GPS) for the location of the built-up themes prepared in the Geographic Information System (GIS). Land Consumption Rate (LCR) and Land Absorption Coefficient (LAC) were introduced to aid in the quantitative assessment changes. The results show a rapid growth in land consumption rate till 1976, reduction in 1999 and again increase in 2008. © 2012 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Journal of Land Use Science

Assessment of land consumption rate with urban dynamics change using geospatial techniques

Participation of Tree Plantation Farmers in Sustainable Forest Management

Brahmaputra river system is very complex because of its braided flow pattern and high sediment load. It is one of the most braided river in the world in which the width of the river extends up to 22 km. The first part of the study includes developing a mathematical model for the river. Sediment transport capacity of the river has been done by using different method of transportation functions like Ackers-White, Yang and Engelnd-Hansen methods. The result shows that Yang's method of transportation function gives a better result for Brahmaputra River when it is compared with the other transportation functions. From these transportation functions Ackers-White method of transportation function gives high value of sediment transport capacity and high value of change in channel invert. The second part of the study is to channelize the river by putting river training structures at selected nodal points. These nodal points are selected based on the channel geometry and property in which channelization of the river can be possible. Some cross sections of the river are much braided in nature and it may not be economical to confine the flow over the whole reach of the river. Flow guide bunds are adopted as a river training structure which used to confine and guide the flow to a gentle channel. Especially these structures are constructed on the banks of the river at bridge site locations to guide and confine flow. Other structures which are adopted as channelization work are closing of secondary channels by putting bed bars, permeable spurs, porcupine screens, Jack Jetty etc.

Water and Energy International

Simulation study for channelization of the brahmaputra river in Assam

In recent years, spillway rehabilitation has increased in importance and become the subject of many projects worldwide. One solution for this problem is the implementation of a new type of labyrinth spillway, called Piano Key Weir (PK-Weir ). This is an excellent alternative for increasing the overflow capacity of existing dams. Similarly to traditional labyrinth weirs, the hydraulic capacity of a PK-Weir is a function of its geometrical characteristics. Currently, there is a lack of systematic experiments, and the existing data does not allow the proposition of a universal design procedure. This paper reviews the previous studies on the efficiency of planned and built PK-Weirs. The results are evaluated by comparing an actual PK-Weir's discharge to that theoretically obtained for a sharp-crested spillway with crest length equal to the width of the PK-Weir for a given hydraulic head. On the basis of this evaluation, a preliminary design procedure is proposed. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Civil Engineering

(SoE) School of Engineering

Journal of Hydraulic Engineering

Discharge capacity of piano key weirs

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel resource present in Jharia. This is the most exploited coal field because of available metallurgical grade coal reserves. Mining in this coal field was initially in the hands of private entrepreneurs, who had limited resources and lack of desire for scientific mining. The mining method comprised of both open cast as well as underground. The open cast mining areas were not back filled, so large void is present in the form of abandoned mining. Extraction of thick seam by caving in past at shallow depth has damaged the ground surface in the form of subsidence and formation of pot holes or cracks reaching up to surface, enhancing the chances of spontaneous heating of coal seams and mine fire. This coal field is engulfed with about 70 mine fires, spread over an area of 17.32 sq. km., blocking 636 million tonnes of coking coal and 1238 million tonnes of non-coking coal. Around 34.97 sq. km. area of the Jharia Coal Field (JCFis under subsidence. It is mentioned in JCF reconstruction program that 70% of the underground production of coal would come by caving and balance 30% by stowing and thus about 101 sq. km. underground mining area would be affected by subsidence. The other factor, which damages the land in JCF, is opencast mining and overburden dumps. Most of the built-up area is under risk zone because of mine fires activities. Mine fire and surface subsidence is the major problem in the JCF. The present study shows the settlement under risk zone using the high resolution merged data.