ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING(SEMESTER III)

ANNA UNIVERSITY :: CHENNAI 600 025
UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS
REGULATIONS – 2008
CURRICULUM FROM III TO VIII SEMESTERS AND ELECTIVES FOR
B.TECH. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(Common to Civil, CSE, IT & Biomedical Degree Programmes)

UNIT I

ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY

             Definition, scope and importance of environment – need for public awareness - concept 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 exsitu conservation of biodiversity. Field study of common plants, insects, birds Field study of simple ecosystems – pond, river, hill slopes, etc.

UNIT II

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 municipal solid wastes – role of an individual in prevention of pollution – pollution case studies –
disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides. 

UNIT III

NATURAL RESOURCES

             Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies- timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forests and tribal people – Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems – Mineral resources: Use 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.

UNIT IV

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 – role of nongovernmental organization- 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 – enforcement machinery involved in environmental legislation- central and state pollution control boards- Public awareness.

UNIT V

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.