BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani

Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

FIRST SEMESTER 2019-20

COURSE HANDOUT
Date: 30.07.2019

In addition to part I (General Handout for all courses appended to the Time table) this portion gives further
specific details regarding the course.
Course No : BITS F225
Course Title : Environmental Studies
Instructor-in-Charge : SANDHYA MARATHE
Instructor(s) : Sandhya Marathe, Smita Raghuvanshi, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Nishant
Roy, Madhurima Das, Krishna Chaitanya Etika

1. Course Description: Environment, human population, and industrialization; natural resources and the
impact of man-made activities on them; structure and function of ecosystem, population ecology, biodiversity
and its conservation, environmental pollution, social issues and the environment, and environmental impact
assessment.

2. Scope and Objective of the Course: The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) held in Rio De Janero in 1992, the 1994 conference on United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), and a very recent 2015 Paris Agreement have created awareness among the
people around the globe about the deteriorating condition of Earth’s environment. It has warned us not to be
ignorant of the environmental issues. In lieu of the situation, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed the UGC
to introduce a basic course on environment for undergraduate students in India.
The course is designed to cover all aspects of environment [Ecological including biotic (flora- fauna) and
abiotic (air, water, soil & geography), social, economical and aesthetical]. The course is of interdisciplinary
nature dealing with social, biological & engineering aspects of environment. The role of biotic and abiotic
factors in the functioning of the environment, the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment,
different environmental pollutants, its impact and management strategies; and ecological, socio-political and
economic issues will be discussed with appropriate real-life examples and case studies. The course would also
provide insight into practical solutions to different environmental issues. Finally, important concepts of
environmental impact assessment from all the above mentioned sources would be dealt with. The interested
students can take the learnings forward from this point and enrich themselves further by doing other
electives/projects in these areas.

3. Text Books: Erach Bharucha, Text Book of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses, University
Press (India) Private Limited, Second Edition, 2005.

4. Reference Books:
1. Richard T. Wright, Dorothy F. Boorse, Gordon College, Environmental Science: Toward a
Sustainable Future, Pearson Publishers, 12th Edition, 2014.
2. Gerard Kiely, Environmental Engineering, McGraw Hill Education, Special Indian Edition, 2007.
3. Gilbert M. Masters and Wendell P. Ella, Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Sciences,
PHI Learning Private Ltd, 3rd Edition, 2007.

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

4. Course Plan:
Module Number Lecture session Reference Learning Outcome
1. Introduction to L1: Introduction to the T1-Unit 1 & Understand the modality of the
Environmental course and importance Class notes course, environmental issues and
Studies of Environment. its impact of life on Earth

2. Environmental L2: Pollution: Air, T1 –Unit 5, An overview of environmental

Pollution Water, Soil, Marine, 5.1 – 5.8& pollution, which will unfold as
Noise, Thermal, Class notes details are covered
Nuclear & Related
Aspects
3. Air Pollution L3–4: Criteria R2 – Ch 8, Gives an understanding of different
pollutants, Non criteria 8.1, 8.3, 8.4, types of air pollutants, effect of
pollutants, Air 8.6 - 8.10 atmosphere on pollutants behavior,
pollution meteorology, specific case study of carbon
Atmospheric capture sequestration
Dispersion, Carbon
Capture Footprints,
Carbon Sequestration
Methods
4. Environmental L5-6: Legal R2 – Ch 1, Gives an over view of US-EPA
laws and regulations framework of 1.2 – 1.3, laws and CPCB laws & standards
Environmental Laws 1.6, 1.8 & followed
& regulations class notes
5. Need and L7-8: Water Cycle, T1-Unit 2 Present day status/overutilization
importance of water Water Resources, &Class of water resources and their
resources Utilization, Notes pollution.
Management of Water Water stressed countries, disputes
Resources and conflicts over water
Need for Water Resource
Management
6. Development and L9-12: Sustainable T1-Unit 6 Rain water harvesting, Innovations
Regulation of Water Water Management &Class in irrigation techniques.
Resources notes Engineering considerations for
construction of dams and major
infrastructure projects
7. Concept of L13: Structure of T1-Unit 3; Learn about structure and
ecosystems Ecosystems, Global R1 Ch-5 and functioning of ecosystems, biomes
biomes and Climate. 7 & Class and climate
notes
L14: Energy and
Material flow in
ecosystems
8. Biodiversity and its L15: Biodiversity, its T1-Unit 4; Know about the biological wealth
conservation value and R1 Ch-6 & and its value. Learn biodiversity
measurement methods Class notes estimation methods, understand
why there is biodiversity crisis and
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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

L16-17: Biodiversity methods/strategies for its

crisis and conservation conservation
strategies
9. Environmental L18: Science and the T1-Unit 6 Learn about the state of the planet,
science and Environment and 7; R1 environmental science and
legislation Ch-1 and movement, three unifying themes,
L19-20: Economics Ch-2 & moving towards a sustainable
Politics and Public Class notes future, environmental public
Policy policy, politics and the
environment
10. Human L21-24: Human T1-Unit 6 Learn about human population
demography Population and and 7; R1 ecology and development,
Development Ch-8 and ecological foot-print,
Dynamics Ch- 9 & consequences of population growth
Class notes and affluence, demographic
transitions, social modernization,
case study of environmental impact
assessment

11. Population L25-26: Dynamics of T1-Unit 7; Learn about different growth

Ecology natural populations R1 Ch-4, 8 curves, intra and inter-species
and 9 & interactions. Understand evolution
L27-28: Mechanisms Class notes as a force for change, ecosystem
of Population responses to disturbance,
Equilibrium
ecological succession
L29-30: Response of
population to
environment

12. Disaster L31: Types of Natural Class Notes Understand the importance of
mitigation and Disaster, Hazard and PPT disaster mitigation, identification
management Identification, Risk of various disasters and
Analysis and preparedness for their effective
Management management

13. Solid waste L32-33: Integrated R2 – Ch14, Awareness of integrated solid

Management and Management of Solid 14.1 -14.3, waste management system in place
Sanitation waste, Sources of 14.8-14.12 and methodologies followed
Solid Waste,
Engineering
Properties of
Municipal Solid
Waste (MSW),
Storage & Transport
of MSW, Biological

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

MSW Treatment
Techniques
13. Environment L34-35:Methodology Class notes Understanding of impact
Impact Assessment: of EIA: Checklist assessment methodologies
EIA method & Matrix followed through case studies
method, case study on
EIA of one industry
14. Technologies L36: Characterizing R2 – Ch- 16 Characterization of air stream(s),
employed for the Air Stream, and Class so that suitable equipment
industrial air Equipment Selection, notes (technology) can be selected for
Different Types of Air industrial air emissions control
emissions control
Pollution Control
Techniques
15. Design aspects of L37-39: Equipment R2 – Ch - 16 Appreciation and understanding of
three major Design: and Class the principles (involved) which
technologies for Scrubbers notes help in designing the equipment
Absorption for the control of industrial air
industrial air
Adsorption emission(s)
emissions control

6. Evaluation Scheme:
Component Duration Weightage Date & Time Nature of component
(%) (Close Book/ Open Book)
Mid-Semester Test 60 Min. 35% <TEST_1> OB/CB#
Comprehensive 2h 45% <TEST_C> CB
Examination
Assignments - 20% Surprise/announced
# Exact mode will be put up on Nalanda in due course of time.

7. Chamber Consultation Hour: To be announced in the class.

8. Notices: Wherever necessary, course announcements shall be displayed on Nalanda only.
9. Make-up Policy: For a foreseen absence, make-up request should be made to the instructor-in-charge.
Reasons for unanticipated absence that qualify one for make-up include medical or similar personal
emergencies only. No make-up for assignments.

10. Note (if any):

Instructor-in-charge
BITS F225