Ecological engineering for a sustainable AIT eco-campus:water quality-biodiversity-food nexus in ponds and canals | |
| Author | Jain, Armaan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.JNTUK-16-07 |
| Subject(s) | Biodiversity Environment management Ecological engineering Sustainable development. |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. JNTUK-16-07 |
| Abstract | Ecological Engineering which is used to improve the water quality of canals/ponds in urban/suburban communities may yield the best results at minimal cost in a sustainable way, while at the same time it enhances wetland landscape, improves biodiversity and food production and provides other eco - services. This provides an entry point in transforming such communities into E co - Cities. This thesis research studied the role of wetlands on AIT campus with a particular emphasis on Eco - campus concept. To monitor the pollution level of AIT canals/ponds, three study areas (House No.9 canal, SV1 - 2 canal system and W - dorm pond) were studied. Out of these three sites, House No.9 canal was the most highly polluted due to leakage of wastewater into the canal. To mitigate this situation, more robust variety of macrophytes like Typha latifolia (cattail), Cyperus papyrus , Limnocharis flava , Colocasia esculenta (taro) were planted. The results showed minimum and maximum concentrations as NH 3 - N (11 - 22) mg/l, TKN ( 16.2 - 23.4) mg/l, TP (0.5 - 1.9) mg/l, DO (0.3 - 1.3) mg/l. The situation was different for SV 1 - 2 canal system, as it was visually observed that it had different pollution levels throughout the canal. Thus, SV - 1 canal and SV - 2 canal was monitored separately. With respect to SV1 - 2 canal system, the pollution levels were controlled by planting Canna , Limnocharis flava and Colocasia esculenta (Taro). The minimum and maximum concentration figures of SV - 1 canal were as NH 3 - N (0.28 - 1.7) mg/l, TKN (0.56 - 2.8) mg/l, TP (0.5 - 1.9) mg/l, DO (6.6 - 10.1) mg/l, pH (7.5 - 8.5). Additionally, in SV - 2 canal the water surface was ecologically engineered to be covered by Nymphaea (water lilies) and the pollution parameters monitored were observed to be: NH 3 - N (0.28 - 1.2) mg/l, TKN (2.5 - 6.7) mg/l, TP (0.4 - 0.9) mg/l, DO (4.4 - 13.0) mg/l, pH (6.6 - 9.3). The research findings prove d to be of great importance, since the different macrophyte behaviors can be used for different and variable conditions of wetlands for providing eco - engineered robustness, ecological stability and urban sustainability of wetlands. Investigations of wastewater in W - dorm pond were made only for four weeks as the hydrological variations were observed in the pond due to high temperatures in March 2016 to May 2016 (summer season) which disturbed the pond ecosystem and had an adverse impact on the ecological stability of the pond. The weight of Colocasia esculenta (T aro) corm produced at House No.9 canal (441.6 ± 16.0) grams was more in contrast with the weight of the corm produced at SV - 2 canal (100.8 ± 12.9) grams. This was due to the presence of greater amount of nutrients in House No.9 canal when compared to the SV - 2 canal. This displayed the potential of nutrient rich wetland water in the production of Colocasia esculenta (Taro). To elucidate students’ preference for wetland landscaping, a questionnaire survey was conducted and according to their choices the willingness to pay for the eco - engineered wetlands (SV1 - 2 canal system and W - dorm) was estimated to be approximately 1,47,720 Baht. This indicates that the students are benefiting from wetland landscaping. This research has brought to the light, that the utilization of AIT wetlands for food production is not only realistic but also practicable to reuse the water resources with simultaneously attaining environmental sustainability. This landscaping intervention in all the three sites have a tendency to attract additional biodiversity which further enhances the image of AIT eco - campus wetlands significantly. |
| Year | 2016 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. JNTUK-16-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Previous Degree Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kainada, India (JNTUK) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvanathan, C.;Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2016 |