Sustainable Civil Engineering Practices

Sustainable Civil Engineering Practices
Author: Varinder S. Kanwar
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2020-04-30
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9811536775

This book comprises select proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Civil Engineering Practices (ICSCEP 2019). It covers several important aspects of sustainable civil engineering practices dealing with effective waste and material management, natural resources, industrial products, energy, food, transportation and shelter, while conserving and protecting the environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future development. The book also discusses engineering solutions to sustainable development and green design issues. Special emphasis is given on qualitative guidelines for generation, treatment, handling, transport, disposal and recycling of wastes. The book is intended as a practice-oriented reference guide for researchers and practitioners, and will be useful for all working in sustainable civil engineering related fields.

Riverine Ecosystem Management

Riverine Ecosystem Management
Author: Stefan Schmutz
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 562
Release: 2018-05-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319732501

This open access book surveys the frontier of scientific river research and provides examples to guide management towards a sustainable future of riverine ecosystems. Principal structures and functions of the biogeosphere of rivers are explained; key threats are identified, and effective solutions for restoration and mitigation are provided. Rivers are among the most threatened ecosystems of the world. They increasingly suffer from pollution, water abstraction, river channelisation and damming. Fundamental knowledge of ecosystem structure and function is necessary to understand how human acitivities interfere with natural processes and which interventions are feasible to rectify this. Modern water legislation strives for sustainable water resource management and protection of important habitats and species. However, decision makers would benefit from more profound understanding of ecosystem degradation processes and of innovative methodologies and tools for efficient mitigation and restoration. The book provides best-practice examples of sustainable river management from on-site studies, European-wide analyses and case studies from other parts of the world. This book will be of interest to researchers in the field of aquatic ecology, river system functioning, conservation and restoration, to postgraduate students, to institutions involved in water management, and to water related industries.

Renewable Energy and Wildlife Conservation

Renewable Energy and Wildlife Conservation
Author: Christopher E. Moorman
Publisher: JHU Press
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2019-09-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1421432730

Brings together disparate conversations about wildlife conservation and renewable energy, suggesting ways these two critical fields can work hand in hand. Renewable energy is often termed simply "green energy," but its effects on wildlife and other forms of biodiversity can be quite complex. While capturing renewable resources like wind, solar, and energy from biomass can require more land than fossil fuel production, potentially displacing wildlife habitat, renewable energy infrastructure can also create habitat and promote species health when thoughtfully implemented. The authors of Renewable Energy and Wildlife Conservation argue that in order to achieve a balanced plan for addressing these two crucially important sustainability issues, our actions at the nexus of these fields must be directed by current scientific information related to the ecological effects of renewable energy production. Synthesizing an extensive, rapidly growing base of research and insights from practitioners into a single, comprehensive resource, contributors to this volume • describe processes to generate renewable energy, focusing on the Big Four renewables—wind, bioenergy, solar energy, and hydroelectric power • review the documented effects of renewable energy production on wildlife and wildlife habitats • consider current and future policy directives, suggesting ways industrial-scale renewables production can be developed to minimize harm to wildlife populations • explain recent advances in renewable power technologies • identify urgent research needs at the intersection of renewables and wildlife conservation Relevant to policy makers and industry professionals—many of whom believe renewables are the best path forward as the world seeks to meet its expanding energy needs—and wildlife conservationists—many of whom are alarmed at the rate of renewables-related habitat conversion—this detailed book culminates with a chapter underscoring emerging opportunities in renewable energy ecology. Contributors: Edward B. Arnett, Brian B. Boroski, Regan Dohm, David Drake, Sarah R. Fritts, Rachel Greene, Steven M. Grodsky, Amanda M. Hale, Cris D. Hein, Rebecca R. Hernandez, Jessica A. Homyack, Henriette I. Jager, Nicole M. Korfanta, James A. Martin, Christopher E. Moorman, Clint Otto, Christine A. Ribic, Susan P. Rupp, Jake Verschuyl, Lindsay M. Wickman, T. Bently Wigley, Victoria H. Zero

Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation

Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation
Author: Ottmar Edenhofer
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 1088
Release: 2011-11-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781107607101

This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report (IPCC-SRREN) assesses the potential role of renewable energy in the mitigation of climate change. It covers the six most important renewable energy sources - bioenergy, solar, geothermal, hydropower, ocean and wind energy - as well as their integration into present and future energy systems. It considers the environmental and social consequences associated with the deployment of these technologies, and presents strategies to overcome technical as well as non-technical obstacles to their application and diffusion. SRREN brings a broad spectrum of technology-specific experts together with scientists studying energy systems as a whole. Prepared following strict IPCC procedures, it presents an impartial assessment of the current state of knowledge: it is policy relevant but not policy prescriptive. SRREN is an invaluable assessment of the potential role of renewable energy for the mitigation of climate change for policymakers, the private sector, and academic researchers.

The Power of Renewables

The Power of Renewables
Author: Chinese Academy of Engineering
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2011-01-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309160006

The United States and China are the world's top two energy consumers and, as of 2010, the two largest economies. Consequently, they have a decisive role to play in the world's clean energy future. Both countries are also motivated by related goals, namely diversified energy portfolios, job creation, energy security, and pollution reduction, making renewable energy development an important strategy with wide-ranging implications. Given the size of their energy markets, any substantial progress the two countries make in advancing use of renewable energy will provide global benefits, in terms of enhanced technological understanding, reduced costs through expanded deployment, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to conventional generation from fossil fuels. Within this context, the U.S. National Academies, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), reviewed renewable energy development and deployment in the two countries, to highlight prospects for collaboration across the research to deployment chain and to suggest strategies which would promote more rapid and economical attainment of renewable energy goals. Main findings and concerning renewable resource assessments, technology development, environmental impacts, market infrastructure, among others, are presented. Specific recommendations have been limited to those judged to be most likely to accelerate the pace of deployment, increase cost-competitiveness, or shape the future market for renewable energy. The recommendations presented here are also pragmatic and achievable.

Environmental Mitigation at Hydroelectric Projects

Environmental Mitigation at Hydroelectric Projects
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 1991
Genre:
ISBN:

The first report of the Environmental Study examines current mitigation practices for water quality [specifically, dissolved oxygen (DO)], instream flows, and upstream and downstream fish passage. This review describes information on the types and frequency of mitigations methods in use, their environmental benefits and effectiveness, and their environmental benefits and effectiveness, and their costs. Information on mitigation practices was obtained directly from three sources: (a) existing records from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), (b) new information provided by nonfederal hydropower developers, and (c) new information obtained from the state and federal natural resource agencies involved in hydropower regulation. Information on specific mitigation practices was obtained from 280 projects, more than 40% of all the projects licensed during the 1980s that were identified a priori as having the mitigation requirements of interest. Of all projects receiving FERC licenses or license exemptions since 1980, instream flow requirements are the most common mitigation requirement, followed by requirements for downstream fish passage, DO protection, and upstream fish passage facilities. The proportion of projects with environmental mitigation requirements has increased significantly during the past decade.

Balancing River Health and Hydropower Requirements in the Lancang River Basin

Balancing River Health and Hydropower Requirements in the Lancang River Basin
Author: Xuezhong Yu
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2018-09-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811315655

This book assesses river health in the Lancang River Basin with regard to the impacts of hydropower projects. It studies key components of the transboundary effects of Chinese dams on the Lancang River including its hydrology, sediment transport, water temperature, and fish community. It also investigates the specific impacts of hydropower on women’s lives and livelihoods, and factors that influence women’s participation in river health management. In closing, the lessons learned regarding environmental protection and hydropower development in the Lancang River Basin are shared, e.g. with hydropower developers and regulators in Laos.