Sustainable Urban Engineering

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGG APPLICATIONS

Dr. Anabel A. Abuzo, Associate Professor

Civil Engineering Department- Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan
Environmental Air Pollutants & Sources
Transformation of Pollutants
ENVIRONMENT: CHANGE AND IMPACTS
CLIMATE CHANGE refers to the
change in the state of the climate
that can be identified by changes in
the mean and or variability of its
properties, and that persist for an
extended period.

IMPACTS refer to the effects of

climate change on the natural and
human systems.
OUR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
URBAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
"Sustainable development is
development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.”
- Brundtland Commission

Commitment to SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT alongside CLIMATE CHANGE…

Adaptation and Mitigation initiatives
SUSTAINABILITY INTERCONNECTIVITY
TAXONOMY OF COMMUNITIES & SYSTEMS
CIRCLES OF SUSTAINABILITY
1. APPLICATION: BIOFUEL
Biofuel are renewable energy
sources derived from biomass
that is, plant, algae material, or
animal waste.

2 Types Biofuel
- Bioethanol is an alcohol made
by fermentation
- Biodiesel is produced from oils
or fats using transesterification.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174520300428
https://www.ourendangeredworld.com/energy/pros-and-cons-of-biofuels/
Plants used as a biofuel production. Credit: The Biology Notes
2. APPLICATION: RECYCLING

https://www.cremajoe.com.au/blogs/news/reuse-vs-recycle
https://www.gdrc.org/uem/waste/3r-minimization.html
APPLICATION: RECYCLING

https://www.tzuchi.my/en/join-us/recycling-centres https://www.recyclespot.org/Get-Started/Why-Recycle.aspx
3. WASTE MANAGEMENT https://www.gdrc.org/uem/waste/3r-minimization.html

Waste management or waste

disposal includes the processes
and actions required to
manage waste from its inception
to its final disposal.

The process includes collection,

transport, treatment and
disposal of waste, monitoring,
and regulation of the waste
management process and waste-
related laws, technologies,
economic mechanisms.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
4. APPLICATION: PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
1. Raw Material Extraction - energy used to
extract raw materials
2. Manufacturing and Processing -
assembling and finishing products
3. Transportation - packaging, transporting,
and storing products
4. Usage and Retail - consumption of
resources
5. Waste Disposal

https://tinyurl.com/y7uksdze
5. APPLICATION: CIRCULAR ECONOMY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_economy#/media/File:Linia_kontra%C5%AD_Cirkulero.svg

CE or Circularity is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing,

leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long
as possible.

linear economy approach vis-à-vis circular economy approach

CIRCULAR ECONOMY CONCEPT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_economy#/media/File:The_Circular_Economy_concept.png
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_economy#/media/File:Smart_circular_economy_framework.jpg Smart Circular Economy Framework
6. APPLICATION: RENEWABLE ENERGY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy
Renewable energy is collected
from renewable resources that are
naturally replenished on a human
timescale. It includes sources such
as sunlight, wind, the movement
of water, and geothermal heat.
5- Mainstream Technologies
Solar energy, Wind power, Hydropower,
Bioenergy, and Geothermal energy
4- Emerging Technologies
Enhanced geothermal system, Marine energy,
Artificial photosynthesis, and Earth infrared
thermal radiation
APPLICATION: RENEWABLE ENERGY

https://www.globalengineering.info/artificial-photosynthesis/
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Wide-observation-to-renewable-energy-sources_fig1_355433390
7. APPLICATION: CARBON SEQUESTRATION https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestration

Carbon Sequestration is the process of storing

carbon in a carbon pool. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is
naturally captured from the atmosphere through
biological, chemical, and physical processes.

Artificial processes, devised to produce similar

effects, include large-scale, artificial capture and
sequestration of industrially produced CO2 .

Artificial processes use subsurface saline aquifers,

reservoirs, ocean water, aging oil fields, or
other carbon sinks, bio-energy with carbon capture
and storage, biochar, enhanced weathering,
and direct air capture when combined with storage.
Biological carbon
sequestration is the natural
ability of life and ecosystems
to store carbon. Forests, peat
marshes, and coastal
wetlands are particularly good
as storing carbon. Carbon can
be stored in plant tissue, such
as long-lived tree bark or in
extensive root systems.

Microbes break down plant

and animal tissue through
decomposition. Blue carbon is
the term for atmospheric
carbon captured by oceans
and coastal wetland
ecosystems. The USGS is a
national leader in biological
carbon sequestration
research, particularly related
to blue carbon.
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
8. APPLICATION: REFORESTRATION & FOREST REGENERATION
Forest Regeneration is the act of renewing
tree cover by establishing young trees
naturally or artificially-generally, promptly
after the previous stand or forest has been
removed. https://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc/land_use/235.htm

Reforestation (occasionally, reafforestation)

is the natural or intentional restocking of
existing forests and woodlands (forestation)
that have been depleted, usually
through deforestation and clearcutting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reforestation
 APPLICATION: REFORESTRATION
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200521-planting-trees-doesnt-always-help-with-climate-change https://theplanetvoice.com/rajasthan-reforestation-transform-barren-forest/
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Comparisons-of-natural-regeneration-with-managed-succession-for-reforestation-in_fig2_30861223
Evaluating
suitability of
land for forest
landscape
restoration: A
case study of
Three Gorges
Reservoir, China

https://www.sciencedirect.
com/science/article/pii/S14
70160X21004301
9. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
EIA is systematic process
of identifying future
consequences of a
current or proposed
action. It doesn’t only
focuses on technical and
economic considerations
but also, traditional
aspects like impact on
local people,
biodiversity, etc.

https://www.era-comm.eu/EU_Legislation_on_Environmental_Assessments/part_2/part_2_6.html
 Uses of Environmental Impact Assessment
Systematic Evaluation of an eco friendly project https://ifluids.com/environmental-impact-assessment-eia/

Risk and hazard assessment

Impact identification
Monitoring of impact and advice
Development control
Project development
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)