| Author | Sundui, Batsuren |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-17-02 |
| Subject(s) | Footprints--Thailand--Case studies
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-17-02 |
| Abstract | Golf tourism has increased in popularity and the number of golf courses has grown rapidly in recent years. Operation and maintenance of golf course entails different frequent activities such as irrigation, mowing and application of chemical fertilizers. These study aimed to evaluate the carbon footprint; GHG flux estimation of the small wetlands, canal waters and soils at the course; and the carbon sequestration rate in soil and aboveground of AIT Golf Course. For carbon footprint accounting, life-cycle assessment methodology was applied and system boundary was chosen as turfgrass maintenance and course operation. The main GHG emission contributors identified as the usage of diesel, electricity, golf carts and petrol. In addition, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of greens, tees and fairways have been estimated to determine the emissions from different parts and greens were highest emitting due to its more frequent activities. Estimations of GHG emissions from wetlands, canal water and soils had done using static gas chambers, four on fairways and roughs; another four on the waters; and the gas concentrations were analyzed through gas chromatography. The analyses of carbon sequestration rate in soil and grass were carried out in the laboratory to estimate the carbon balance of the golf course. The carbon contribution of golf course in AIT was 24.5 ton CO₂e year-1. Emissions from wetlands and canal water fluxes were ranged between 22.2 g CO₂ m-2h-1 to 452.5 g CO₂ m-2h-1and soil CO₂ fluxes found out as between 23.23 g CO₂ m-2h-1 and 31 g CO₂ m-2h-1, Methane flux was an average of 12.6 g CH4 m-2h-1. Carbon sequestration rate of golf course was 17 ton CO₂ yr-1 which is 69% of overall contribution. Finally, the carbon balance found as “–7.5 ton CO₂ yr-1”. The results from the LCA study showed that some of the inputs in golf course have much higher carbon footprint than others which can be reduced through environment-conscious actions. GHG emission estimation result pointed out that pollution in the wetlands and canal water have a potential of leakage from chemical fertilizer and pesticides. Finally, carbon sequestration rate results showed soil has much higher sequestration than aboveground. |
| Year | 2017 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Annachhatre, Ajit P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvanathan, C.;Vilas Nitivattananon; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2017 |