GE2211-ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND NATURAL
RESOURCES
Definition, Scope and Importance – Need For Public
Awareness – Forest Resources:- Use and Over - Exploitation, Deforestation, Case
Studies, Timber Extraction, Mining, Dams and their Ground Water, Floods,
Drought, Conflicts Over Water, Dams - Benefits and Problems – Mineral
Resources:- Use Effects on Forests and Tribal People – Water Resources:- Use
and Over-Utilization of Surface and Exploitation, Environmental Effects of
Extracting and Using Mineral Resources, Case Studies – Food Resources: World
Food Problems, Changes caused by Agriculture and Overgrazing, Effects of Modern
Agriculture, Fertilizer- Pesticide Problems, Water Logging, salinity, Case
Studies – Energy Resources:- Growing Energy Needs, Renewable and Non Renewable
Energy Sources, Use of Alternate Energy Sources, Case Studies – Land
Resources:- Land as a Resource, Land Degradation, Man Induced Landslides, Soil
Erosion and Desertification – Role of an Individual in Conservation of Natural Resources
– Equitable use of Resources for Sustainable Lifestyles. Field Study of Local
Area to Document Environmental assets – River/Forest/Grassland/Hill/ Mountain.
ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY
Concepts of an Ecosystem – Structure and Function of
an Ecosystem – Producers, Consumers and Decomposers – Energy Flow in the
Ecosystem – Ecological Succession – Food Chains, Food Webs and Ecological
Pyramids – Introduction, Types, Characteristic Features, Structure and Function
of the (A) Forest Ecosystem (B) Grassland Ecosystem (C) Desert Ecosystem (D)
Aquatic Ecosystems (Ponds, Streams, Lakes, Rivers, Oceans, Estuaries) –
Introduction to Biodiversity – Definition: Genetic, Species and Ecosystem
Diversity – Biogeographical Classification of India – Value of Biodiversity:
Consumptive Use, Productive Use, Social, Ethical, Aesthetic and Option Values –
Biodiversity at Global, National and Local Levels – India as a Mega-Diversity
Nation – Hot-Spots of Biodiversity – Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss,
Poaching of Wildlife, Man-Wildlife Conflicts – endangered and Endemic Species
of India – Conservation of Biodiversity: In-Situ and Ex-Situ conservation of
Biodiversity.
Field Study of Common Plants, Insects and Birds -
Field Study of Simple Ecosystems – Pond, River, Hill Slopes, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Definition – Causes, Effects and Control Measures of:-
(A) Air Pollution (B) Water Pollution (C) Soil Pollution (D) Marine Pollution
(E) Noise Pollution (F) Thermal Pollution (G) Nuclear Hazards – Soil Waste
Management:- Causes, Effects and Control Measures of Urban and Industrial
Wastes – Role of an Individual in Prevention of Pollution – Pollution Case
Studies – disaster Management:- Floods, Earthquake, Cyclone and Landslides.
Field Study of Local Polluted Site – Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural.
SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
From Unsustainable To Sustainable Development – Urban
Problems Related To energy – Water conservation, Rain Water Harvesting, Watershed
Management – Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People, Its Problems and
Concerns, Case Studies – Environmental Ethics:- Issues and Possible Solutions –
Climate Change, Global Warming, Acid Rain, Ozone Layer Depletion, Nuclear
Accidents and Holocaust, Case Studies – Wasteland Reclamation – Consumerism and
Waste Products – Environment Production Act – Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act – Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act – Wildlife
Protection Act – Forest Conservation Act – Issues Involved in enforcement of
Environmental Legislation – Public Awareness.
HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Population Growth, Variation Among Nations –
Population Explosion – Family Welfare Programme – environment and Human Health
– Human Rights – Value Education – HIV /AIDS – Women and Child Welfare – Role
of Information Technology in Environment and Human Health – Case Studies.
REFERENCE
Text Books
1.Masters, G.M., “Introduction to Environmental
Engineering and Science”, Pearson Education Pvt., Ltd., 2nd Edition, 2004.
2.Miller, T.G. Jr., “Environmental Science”, Wadsworth
Pub. Co.
3.Townsend C., Harper, J. and Begon, M., “Essentials
of Ecology”, Blackwell Science, 2003.
4.Trivedi, R.K., and Goel, P.K., “Introduction to Air
Pollution”, Techno- Science Publications.
Reference Books
1.Erach, B., “The Biodiversity of India”, Mapin
Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, India.
2.Trivedi, R.K., “Handbook of Environmental Law’s,
Rules, Guidelines,Compliances and Standards”, Vol - I and II, Envio Media.
3.Cunningham., Cooper, W.P. and Gorhani, T.H.,
“Environmental Encyclopedia”, Jaico Publishing House, Mumbai, 2001.
4.Wages, K.D., “Environmental Management”, W.B.
Saunders Co., Philadelphia, USA,1998.
