Fishing Crafts and Gears in Buug, Dumanquillas Bay, Philippines

Dumanquillas Bay is a body of saltwater and the major source of food located in the Southern Mindanao. It has been observed that marine resources and fish catch in the area are declining. This study assumed that fishing practices affect the decline of marine and fish catch in the bay. A study on the documentation of fishing practices in the area is reported here. Key informant interview (KII), focus group discussion, direct observation and document archival were used. Twenty-three (23) fishing practices were observed in the area. Based on R.A. 10654 or the Philippine Fisheries Code, five (5) fishing practices were identified in the bay which are illegal. These are “pahulbot sa lalum”, “pahulbot sa mabaw”, “panubli”, “panguryente” and “troll” that destroys sea grasses, coral reefs and the sea beds. The illegal fishing practices identified poses a threat to the marine resources. It implies weak implementation of fishing policies among the LGU’s and other concerned government institutions and NGA’s. Capacity building, CEPA campaign and committed implementation of the Philippine Fisheries Code (R.A. 10654) should be implemented by the PAMB and stakeholders in the community to manage the remaining coastal marine resources thereby uplifting the socio-economic status of the coastal community and achieve sustainability.

Educations Board Game for Sustainable Agriculture - Pheromone Pest Control

The mode of agricultural operation affects the ecological environment, and the pollution of land by chemical pesticides also affects the environmental balance. The death of many bees affects pollination, and the animals in the upper layers of the food chain die. The pheromones are formulated with synthetic pheromones as bait and then trapped with appropriate insect traps to reduce the chance of pest mating. Table game matches the props of the garden and pests by moving the insects to the traps. The model constructed by the relationship between the shape of the bottom of the insect and the track. Augmented reality provides an interactive experience of an event-driven where the objects reside in the real world with computer-generated information. Users can use the QR codes to trigger online media. When students complete a specific task, they scan the QR Code with their mobile phone and get more exciting instructions and task guidance. Students satisfied to more in-depth knowledge of pheromones with AR too.

Implementation of Aerial Panoramic Photography for Environmental Studies Through VR Experiences

Technology allows us to experience situations from a different perspective. This project investigated many parts and techniques for better VR experiences. Aerial photography: Aerial photography provides a broad view of the changes in a landscape. However, aerial photography cannot offer a microscopic perspective of the changes with novel panoramas and landscape photos. A parallax compensation algorithm for stitching videos enables the user to reduce the time required to fix stitching issues in post-production. The experiment results indicated that the optimum camera height was 500 m, slightly higher than the clouds. An appropriate number of spatial samples were selected during photography to obtain high-quality images. The researchers avoided restricted flight areas and designed the image acquisition method according to the selected flight path, which were then combined in the post-processing step. Those 360-degree-aerial-images trigger young people's environmental awareness, which enhances the creator's sense of environmental protection.

Composition and Structure of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities in Mining Areas Streams (Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa)

The existence of mining areas for decades could potentially affect aquatic environments and human health. This study allowed assessing the effects of mining activities on streams in three mining areas (Hiré, Lauzoua and Tortiya). Macroinvertebrates were collected on eight campaigns at eight stations using a hand-net, an Ekman grab and surber net. Environmental variables were recorded also. In this study the conductivity values were higher in the locality of Hiré. It was between 154.2 μS / cm (Tchindégri station) and 1753 μS / cm (Tributary Gbloh station). The highest temperature values were recorded in the stations of Tortiya locality (24 o C: Bou 2; 33.1 o C: Bou 1). A total of 184 taxa distributed among nine classes, 20 orders, 80 families and comprising 14 401 individuals were recorded. Insecta were the most diversified class in macroinvertebrate community (84% of taxa collected, eight orders and 59 families). Ecological indices (Shannon Weiner, rarefied richness, Pielou’s evenness) were significantly low at Lauzoua (N'Téko station) and Hiré (Tributary Gbloh station) (Mann- Whitney test, P <0.05). Ecological indices showed no significant variation between the stations of the locality of Tortiya. The PCA had grouped the stations into four clusters. Conductivity, ammonium, phosphate, nitrites, and nitrates were significantly higher (Mann- Whitney test, P < 0.05) in cluster I (Tributary Gbloh station) Compared to other clusters. Eight taxa (Limnius sp., Liberonautes chaperi, Gordius sp., Phyllogomphus sp., Orectogyrus sp., Bezzia sp., Adenophlebiodes, Parasedodes sp.) were specific to Tchindégri station (Hiré) and six taxa (Naucoris sp., Amphiops sp., Hydrobius sp., Pseudobagous longulus, Culicinae and Gomphus sp.) were associated to the Bou 1 and Bou 2 stations (Tortiya).

Taxonomic Diversity and Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrates of Taabo Lake (Basin of Bandama; Ivory Coast)

The taxonomic diversity and structure of benthic macroinvertebrates of Taabo Lake (Ivory Coast), from November 2017 to October 2018 were evaluated. Water quality parameters, such as temperature (T °C), water transparency (cm), dissolved oxygen (mg.L-1), pH, turbidity (NTU), electrical conductivity (EC, µS.cm-1) were measured in situ using a multi-parameter probe HANNA, from four sampling points (littoral and sub-littoral zones) in Taabo Lake. Benthic macroinvertebrates sampling were collected by using Van veen in stainless steel. A total of 63 benthic macroinvertebrates taxa belonging to 23 Families, 8 Orders, 2 Classes and 2 Phylums (Molluscs and Arthropods) were identified. The most abundant of benthic macroinvertebrates were Mesogastropoda (66%) represented in all sampling points. They were followed by Diptera (25%), Odonata (3%), Ephemeroptera (3%), Basommatophora (2%), Heteroptera (1%), Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (less than 1%). The values of diversity indices of benthic macroinvertebrates collected in Taabo Lake showed no significant variations between sampling points.

Assessing the Impacts of Electricity Utilization in Educational Faculties: A Thailand Case Study

In view of the up-scaling energy crises worldwide, efforts have been focusing on reducing energy consumption and replacing fossil fuels usage with renewable energy sources. Thailand is one of the developing countries that have been facing an increase in energy demand associated to its economic expansion. The development in the educational sector is one of the sectors causing an increasing energy demand.Purpose: This study aims to quantify energy usage and understand its environmental impacts in one of the educational facilities in Thailand in order to identify energy saving opportunities and improvement options related to energy consumption in this sector. Materials and Methods: The investigation included a historical energy analysis for energy utilization of the facility, an onsite energy audit and an environmental impacts assessment. A number of potential energy saving opportunities was identified; related cost savings and CO2 reduction were calculated. Additionally, the environmental impacts of energy utilization were simulated using the life cycle assessment technique. Special attention was given to potential impacts on global warming due to its direct association to fossil fuels combustion.Results and discussion: the pattern of energy utilization was identified and it clarified that the major contributor to energy utilization was energy consumption practices by students and staff of the faculty. Consequently, awareness raising of energy saving opportunities and people involvement was the major area of improvement. Results show that increasing people involvement in energy saving practices could lead to a cost saving of 46,000-120,000 USD/Year with low cost investment and a 100-240 ton CO2 reduction. Other potential savings were using motion sensors which save 30-40% of energy costs in offices and utilizing renewable solar energy as a source for electricity. This will save 13,300-33,300 USD/Year with a 7.5 years payback and 35-50 years lifetime.When assessing the associated environmental impacts to electricity production, five main categories were found to be impacted: fossil fuels depletion, respiratory inorganics formation potential, global worming potential, acidification potential and eutrophication potential. The application of the suggested energy saving opportunities will reduce the electricity consumption, lower generated air emissions from fossil fuels combustion, consequently minimize all associated impacts specially global worming potential.In Conclusion: assessing energy utilization of educational facilities is essential to reduce energy demand in an up-scaling economy. Energy analysis and onsite energy audits are efficient methods for recognizing energy utilization patterns and identifying energy saving opportunities. The implemented investigation in this study can be applied in different educational facilities.

Preliminary Study on Air Quality of Srinagar, (J&K), India

The present work was carried out to study the air quality of Srinagar city and the samples were collected from five different sites which includes commercial area (site-I), industrial area (site-II), residential area (site-III), ecologically sensitive site (site-IV) and sensitive area (site-V). During the study samples were taken on monthly basis and were analyzed for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and repairable particulate matter (PM10). Significant variation was recordedwithin and among the sites in NO2 (F3 = 3.82; F4 = 115, P < 0.05), whereas among the sites in SO2 and PM10 (F4 = 167, P < 0.05) and (F4 = 72.55, P < 0.05) respectively. The study revealed higher concentration of NO2 at Lal chowk which is commercial area and vehicular emission could be the one of the reason for higher value of NO2. SO2 exhibited high concentration at industrial area and could be attributed to burning of fossil fuels in industries and use of generator sets. PM10 was also found higher in industrial area due to presence of cement industries in addition to burning of coal as fuel. The overall concentration of NO2 and SO2 were found within the permissible limits for all sites as per National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) except for PM10 at site-I and site II. The overall air quality index of site-I and site-II falls within “Moderate” category and for site-III, IV and V falls within “Good” category.

Impact of Mining on Forests and Its Biological Diversity at Kirandul Iron Ore Mines, Dantewada, South Bastar, Chhattisgarh: A Case Study

Mining activities have several impacts on the environment. In our study, emphasis was given to assess biodiversity in one of the leading iron ore mining sites of Bailadila-Kirandul Iron Ore Mines (KIOM) of Dantewada District, South Bastar of Chhattisgarh. Habitat fragmentation, loss and deforestation are highly prevalent in the area. However, the study reveals high species richness of 110 and 253 plant species in core and buffer zone respectively. Canopy cover was found to be within 10 to 40% and in places in the buffer zone canopy cover with > 40% was recorded. Species diversity index indicates the instability of vegetation structure in the area with indices of 1.44 in core and 1.88 in buffer zone. Although species richness is high, about 10 floral species (7 herbs, 3 trees) are recorded under REET (Rare Endangered Extinct Threatened) species while locally endangered floral species are 6 and locally critically endangered are 4. Similarly, 208 faunal species belong to 10 faunal groups was recorded out of which 34 species are listed in different Schedules of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Therefore, it is an urgent need for planning to undertake appropriate management strategies to conserve biodiversity in the area.

The Effect of Biodiesel Derived from Waste Oil on Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics

To produce biodiesel from waste oil and use it as an alternative fuel in compression ignition (CI) engines is an efficient way to eliminate this harmful compound. In this experimental study, the effects of biodiesel derived from waste oil on emission and performance characteristics of CI engine were investigated. The production of biodiesel was realized at the condition: 9wt% acid catalyst amount, 9:1 molar ratio, 60oC reaction temperature and 120min reaction time. Biodiesel and diesel were mixed with different volumetric ratios and the properties of each blend were analyzed. Each blend was tested with a direct injection CI engine to see the effect of biodiesel on performance and emission characteristics. In conclusion, blends showed similar results in terms of performance comparing to diesel. The use of biodiesel derived from waste oil led to decrease in hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) emissions and smoke opacity up to 81.25%, 55.02% and 40.48% respectively while led to slight increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in general.

Assessment of Borehole Water Quality for Domestic Use in Three Selected Wards in Wudil Local Government Area, Kano State

The quality of water used for domestic purposes from three boreholes in Wudil Local Government (KUST Wudil, Unguwar Danya and Unguwar Fulani) was analyzed and assessed for a period of five weeks using standard methods of sampling and laboratory analysis. Parameters tested include pH dissolved oxygen (DO), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), nitrate ion (NO3), conductivity, hardness, temperature total dissolved solids (TDS) and turbidity. Results showed that there are significant differences between the different wards. However, a one way ANOVA conducted reveals significant difference (p < 0.05) between the different sites and physicochemical parameters. It is therefore recommended that government should be more effective in controlling the point source of pollution in the area.