KARPAGAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
GE3451- ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND SUSTAINABILITY
REGULATIONS-2021
IV SEMESTER
1
,GE3451 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND SUSTAINABILITY LTPC
2002
UNIT I ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY 6
Definition, scope and importance of environment – need for public awareness. Eco-system
and Energy flow– ecological succession. Types of biodiversity: genetic, species and
ecosystem diversity– values of biodiversity, 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.
UNIT II ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 6
Causes, Effects and Preventive measures of Water, Soil, Air and Noise Pollutions, Solid,
Hazardous and E-Waste management. Case studies on Occupational Health and Safety
Management system (OHASMS). Environmental protection, Environmental protection acts.
UNITIII RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 6
Energy management and conservation, New Energy Sources: Need of new sources. Different
types new energy sources. Applications of- Hydrogen energy, Ocean energy resources, Tidal
energy conversion. Concept, origin and power plants of geothermal energy.
UNIT IV SUSTAINABILITY AND MANAGEMENT 6
Development , GDP ,Sustainability- concept, needs and challenges-economic, social and
aspects of sustainability-from unsustainability to sustainability-millennium development
goals, and protocols-Sustainable Development Goals-targets, indicators and intervention
areas Climate change- Global, Regional and local environmental issues and possible
solutions-case studies. Concept of Carbon Credit, Carbon Footprint. Environmental
management in industry-A case study.
UNIT V SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES 6
Zero waste and R concept, Circular economy, ISO 14000 Series, Material Life cycle
assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment. Sustainable habitat: Green buildings, Green
materials, Energy efficiency, Sustainable transports. Sustainable energy: Non-conventional
Sources, Energy Cycles-83 carbon cycle, emission and sequestration, Green Engineering:
Sustainable urbanization Socio economical and technological change.
TOTAL: 30 PERIODS
2
, UNIT I
ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY
INTRODUCTION
The word environment is derived from the French word “Environ” meaning
“Surroundings”. Each and everything around us is called as environment.
Every organism is surrounded by materials and forces which constitute its
environment, from which it must derive its needs. Environment creates favourable conditions
for the existence and development of living organisms.
Environment: Environment is defined as, “the sum of total of all living and non - living
things around us influencing one another.”
Environmental science: Environmental science is the study of the environment, its biotic
(ie., biological) and abiotic (ie., non biological) components and their interrelationship.
Environmental engineering: Environmental engineering is the application of engineering
principles to the protection and enhancement of quality of the environment and public health
and welfare.
Environmental studies: Environmental studies are the process of educating the people for
preserving quality environment.
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
Environment can be divided into two categories
1.Natural environment
Natural environment is characterized by natural components. All biotic (living) and
abiotic components (non-living) are created through a natural process. Creation of these
biotic and abiotic components do not require any human support.
Examples: Soil, water, air, trees, radiations, noise, etc.
Man - made environment
Man is the most powerful environmental agent. He modifies the environment using
modern technologies, according to his needs to a great extent. Thus the man-made
environment is created by man.
Examples: House, road, schools, railway lines, parks, etc
COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment consists of Abiotic (non living), Biotic (living) and energy
component.
Abiotic (non living) component or physical component
The abiotic components enter into the living organism helps in metabolism and return to
environment.
Eg. Soil, air, water, mineral
Abiotic components are divided into
1.Atmosphere: Component that moves substance from atmospheric sources to receptors.
3
, Regions of atmosphere
Region Altitude Temperature(oC) Chemical species
Troposphere 0-18 15 to -56 N2,H2O,CO2,O2
Stratosphere 18-50 -56 to -2 Ozone
Mesosphere 50-85 -2 to -92 NO+,O2+
Thermosphere 85-500 -92 to 1200 NO+,O+,O2+
Exosphere Upto 1600 H2,He
Oxygen in atmosphere supports living organisms, carbon dioxide is essential for
photosynthesis and nitrogen for plant growth.
2.Hydrosphere: Component that collects the substances within the water shed and deliver
them to the other sub component
3.Lithosphere: Solid shell of inorganic materials on the surface of the earth.
Biotic (Living) component
The living components of the environment are biotic components.
Eg. Animals, plants, micro organisms
Biosphere: The biological environment where living organisms live and interact with
physical environment (soil, air, water) is called biosphere.
Energy component
The component of energy flows across biotic and abiotic components, play an important role
to maintain the life of living organisms.
Eg. Solar energy, nuclear energy, geochemical energy.
SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Environmental study is an important tool to educate the people for preserving quality
environment. The main scope of environmental studies includes
1. To get an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its related problems.
2. To motivate society to actively participated in environmental protection and
improvement.
3. To develop skills for identifying and solving environmental problems.
4. To know the necessity of conservation of natural resources.
5. To evaluate environmental programmes in terms of social, economic, ecological, and
aesthetic factors.
IMPORTANCE (OR) SIGNIFICANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Air we breathe, water we drink, food we consume and land we live on are all
contaminated by industrial activities. There is no zero pollution industry. Because of the lack
of self discipline and not worrying about our future generation, the valuable resources are
polluted. To solve the above problems, knowledge of environmental studies is very
important.
1. By environmental studies, we will understand the concept of “need of development
without destruction of environment”.
2. Through environmental studies, we can gain the knowledge of different types of
environment and the effects of different environmental hazards.
4
GE3451- ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND SUSTAINABILITY
REGULATIONS-2021
IV SEMESTER
1
,GE3451 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND SUSTAINABILITY LTPC
2002
UNIT I ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY 6
Definition, scope and importance of environment – need for public awareness. Eco-system
and Energy flow– ecological succession. Types of biodiversity: genetic, species and
ecosystem diversity– values of biodiversity, 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.
UNIT II ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 6
Causes, Effects and Preventive measures of Water, Soil, Air and Noise Pollutions, Solid,
Hazardous and E-Waste management. Case studies on Occupational Health and Safety
Management system (OHASMS). Environmental protection, Environmental protection acts.
UNITIII RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY 6
Energy management and conservation, New Energy Sources: Need of new sources. Different
types new energy sources. Applications of- Hydrogen energy, Ocean energy resources, Tidal
energy conversion. Concept, origin and power plants of geothermal energy.
UNIT IV SUSTAINABILITY AND MANAGEMENT 6
Development , GDP ,Sustainability- concept, needs and challenges-economic, social and
aspects of sustainability-from unsustainability to sustainability-millennium development
goals, and protocols-Sustainable Development Goals-targets, indicators and intervention
areas Climate change- Global, Regional and local environmental issues and possible
solutions-case studies. Concept of Carbon Credit, Carbon Footprint. Environmental
management in industry-A case study.
UNIT V SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES 6
Zero waste and R concept, Circular economy, ISO 14000 Series, Material Life cycle
assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment. Sustainable habitat: Green buildings, Green
materials, Energy efficiency, Sustainable transports. Sustainable energy: Non-conventional
Sources, Energy Cycles-83 carbon cycle, emission and sequestration, Green Engineering:
Sustainable urbanization Socio economical and technological change.
TOTAL: 30 PERIODS
2
, UNIT I
ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY
INTRODUCTION
The word environment is derived from the French word “Environ” meaning
“Surroundings”. Each and everything around us is called as environment.
Every organism is surrounded by materials and forces which constitute its
environment, from which it must derive its needs. Environment creates favourable conditions
for the existence and development of living organisms.
Environment: Environment is defined as, “the sum of total of all living and non - living
things around us influencing one another.”
Environmental science: Environmental science is the study of the environment, its biotic
(ie., biological) and abiotic (ie., non biological) components and their interrelationship.
Environmental engineering: Environmental engineering is the application of engineering
principles to the protection and enhancement of quality of the environment and public health
and welfare.
Environmental studies: Environmental studies are the process of educating the people for
preserving quality environment.
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
Environment can be divided into two categories
1.Natural environment
Natural environment is characterized by natural components. All biotic (living) and
abiotic components (non-living) are created through a natural process. Creation of these
biotic and abiotic components do not require any human support.
Examples: Soil, water, air, trees, radiations, noise, etc.
Man - made environment
Man is the most powerful environmental agent. He modifies the environment using
modern technologies, according to his needs to a great extent. Thus the man-made
environment is created by man.
Examples: House, road, schools, railway lines, parks, etc
COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment consists of Abiotic (non living), Biotic (living) and energy
component.
Abiotic (non living) component or physical component
The abiotic components enter into the living organism helps in metabolism and return to
environment.
Eg. Soil, air, water, mineral
Abiotic components are divided into
1.Atmosphere: Component that moves substance from atmospheric sources to receptors.
3
, Regions of atmosphere
Region Altitude Temperature(oC) Chemical species
Troposphere 0-18 15 to -56 N2,H2O,CO2,O2
Stratosphere 18-50 -56 to -2 Ozone
Mesosphere 50-85 -2 to -92 NO+,O2+
Thermosphere 85-500 -92 to 1200 NO+,O+,O2+
Exosphere Upto 1600 H2,He
Oxygen in atmosphere supports living organisms, carbon dioxide is essential for
photosynthesis and nitrogen for plant growth.
2.Hydrosphere: Component that collects the substances within the water shed and deliver
them to the other sub component
3.Lithosphere: Solid shell of inorganic materials on the surface of the earth.
Biotic (Living) component
The living components of the environment are biotic components.
Eg. Animals, plants, micro organisms
Biosphere: The biological environment where living organisms live and interact with
physical environment (soil, air, water) is called biosphere.
Energy component
The component of energy flows across biotic and abiotic components, play an important role
to maintain the life of living organisms.
Eg. Solar energy, nuclear energy, geochemical energy.
SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Environmental study is an important tool to educate the people for preserving quality
environment. The main scope of environmental studies includes
1. To get an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its related problems.
2. To motivate society to actively participated in environmental protection and
improvement.
3. To develop skills for identifying and solving environmental problems.
4. To know the necessity of conservation of natural resources.
5. To evaluate environmental programmes in terms of social, economic, ecological, and
aesthetic factors.
IMPORTANCE (OR) SIGNIFICANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Air we breathe, water we drink, food we consume and land we live on are all
contaminated by industrial activities. There is no zero pollution industry. Because of the lack
of self discipline and not worrying about our future generation, the valuable resources are
polluted. To solve the above problems, knowledge of environmental studies is very
important.
1. By environmental studies, we will understand the concept of “need of development
without destruction of environment”.
2. Through environmental studies, we can gain the knowledge of different types of
environment and the effects of different environmental hazards.
4
