UNIT 5
Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing is a technology to gather information and analyze an
object or phenomenon without making any physical contact. This is
done by sensing and recording reflected or emitted energy and
processing, analyzing, and applying that information.
When radiation from the Sun reaches the surface of the Earth, some
of the energy at specific wavelengths is absorbed and the rest of the
energy is reflected by the surface material. A detector/sensor present
in a satellite measures the electromagnetic (EM) radiation that is
reflected from the Earth’s surface materials. These measurements can
help to distinguish the type of land covering, soil, water, and
vegetation.
A sensor is a device that measures and records electromagnetic
energy. Sensors can be divided into two groups-Passive sensors and
active sensors. Passive sensors depend on an external source of
energy, the sun. Active sensors have their own source of energy.
These sensors send out a signal and measure the amount reflected.
Active sensors are more controlled because they do not depend upon
varying illumination conditions.
STEPS/PROCESS:
1. Energy Source: The first requirement for remote sensing is to
have an energy source, which illuminates or provides
electromagnetic energy to the target of interest.
2. Radiation and the Atmosphere: as the energy travels from its
source to the target, it will come in contact with and interact
with the atmosphere it passes through. This interaction will take
place once again as the energy travels from the target to the
sensor.
3. Interaction with the Target: the energy interacts with the target
depending on the properties of both the target and the
radiation.
4. Recording of Energy by the Sensor: after the energy has been
reflected by, or emitted from the target, sensor collects and
records the radiation.
5. Transmission, Reception, and Processing: The energy recorded
by the sensor must be transmitted, often in electronic form, to a
receiving and processing station at earth where the data are
processed and stored in digital form.
6. Interpretation and Analysis: The processed data is interpreted,
visually and/or digitally to extract information about the target
which was illuminated. Specialized instruments/hardware and
software are used for this purpose that are commonly known as
image processing tools.
7. Application: the final element of the remote sensing process is
achieved when we apply the information, we have been able to
extract from the imagery about the target to better understand
it, reveal some new information, or assist in solving a particular
problem.
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that
analyses and displays geographically referenced information.
GIS is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze,
manage, and present all types of geographical data.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
EIA can be defined as the study to predict the effect of a proposed
activity/project on the environment. EIA systematically examines both
beneficial and adverse consequences of the project and ensures that
these effects are considered during project design. It helps to identify
possible environmental effects of the proposed project, proposes
measures to mitigate adverse effects and predicts whether there will
be significant adverse environmental effects, even after the mitigation
is implemented. By considering the environmental effects of the
project and their mitigation early in the project planning cycle,
environmental assessment has many benefits, such as protection of
environment, optimum utilization of resources and saving of time and
cost of the project. In 1994, the Union Ministry of Environment and
Forests (MoEF) and CPCB (Central pollution control board), under the
guidance of Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA
notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory. EIA is
made mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power
plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbors and
airports) and industries.
EIA is done in two steps:
Phase I
a. Organizing the job: Interdisciplinary team is made to study the
EIA, the team includes geologist, biologist, hydrologist,
engineers etc.
b. Performing the assessment: visiting the site, identifying,
evaluating, preparing checklist.
c. Writing of EIS: (Environmental impact statement) Description
of the site, description of the project, goal and objectives,
alternative, measures to minimize the adverse effect.
d. Review
Phase II
This consists of following steps:
a. Screening: First stage of EIA, which determines whether the
proposed project requires an EIA and if it does, then the level
of assessment required.
b. Scoping: This stage identifies the key issues and benefits of the
project. This stage also defines the boundary and time limit of
the study.
c. Impact analysis: This stage of EIA identifies and predicts the
environmental and social impact of the proposed project.
d. Mitigation measures: This step in EIA recommends the actions
to reduce and avoid the adverse environmental consequences
of development activities.
e. Reporting: This stage presents the result of EIA in the form
of a report.
f. Review of EIA:
➢ Decision-making: It decides whether the project is
rejected, approved, or needs further change.
➢ Post monitoring: This stage comes into play once the
project is commissioned. It checks to ensure that the
impacts of the project do not exceed the legal standards
and implementation of the mitigation measures are in the
manner as described in the EIA report.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
It is a set of processes and practices that enable an organization to
reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating
efficiency. Environmental management system (EMS) is an approach
to identifying the ways that the environment is impacted by our work
activities.
Running an effective EMS will help you with improving resource
efficiency and reducing unnecessary expenditure - you will have
policies and procedures in place that help you manage waste and
resources more effectively. This can reduce your associated raw
materials and operating costs.
EMS follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act, or PDCA, Cycle model that
involves:
• Planning, including identifying environmental aspects and
establishing goals (Plan),
• Implementing (or doing), including training and operational
controls (Do),
• Checking, including monitoring the system and taking corrective
actions (Check), and
• Reviewing, including progress reviews, and taking actions to
make the needed changes (Act).
ISO 14001
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an
internationally agreed standard that sets the requirements for an
environmental management system (EMS). It provides a framework
that an organization/company can follow to enhance its
environmental performance. ISO 14001 which was introduced
in 1996. The purpose of establishing the ISO 14001 Standard is to
protect the environment from the negative impacts of hazardous and
non-hazardous waste produced by industries and humans. ISO 14001
is a set of standards created to help companies to reduce their
adverse impact on the environment. It helps organizations improve
their environmental performance through more efficient use of
resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage.
The standard aims to reduce an organization’s waste, pollution, and
energy consumption. ISO 14001 certification will remain valid
for three years. Maintaining the certification requires an assessment
once a year and recertification every three years to ensure EMS is still
operating to the standards required by ISO 14001.
Environmental Stewardship
This refers to the responsible use and protection of the natural
environment through active participation in conservation efforts
and sustainable practices by individuals, small groups, and non-
profit organizations. Environmental stewardship conserves natural
resources, combats pollution, and protects biodiversity. Anybody can
be an environmental steward by being aware and knowledgeable of
the world around them and making sure they do as little as possible
to negatively impact our world.
Environmental stewards can be categorized into three roles: doers,
donors, and practitioners. Doers actively engage in environmental
aid, such as volunteering. Donor’s support causes financially
including fundraising or personal donations. Practitioners work daily
in environmental stewardship, acting as advocates in collaboration
with various environmental agencies and groups.
NGO
Non-Governmental Organization or a non-profitable group that
functions independently with the objective of improving social conditions.
Examples:
1. HelpAge India: mainly focused on concern for elders and helping
them to improve their standard of living.
2. Chipko movement, also called Chipko Andolan, aimed at
protecting trees and forests. The Chipko movement was started
by Sunderlal Bahuguna in the Garhwal forests.
3. Care India aims to Reduce Poverty and social injustice.
4. CRY (Child Rights and You) works for health, education & safety
of children.
5. Smile Foundation: The smile foundation promote education
among the underprivileged.
6. Make-A-Wish Foundation helps fulfil the wishes of children
with a critical illness.
7. Akshaya Patra is an initiative of ISKCON Bangalore to provide
mid-day meals in the rural schools for the underprivileged
children and thus support their education.
8. Red Cross society: To extend relief and help to the victims of any
calamity – fire, flood, famine, earthquakes, etc. Blood bank and
to extend all possible first-aid in an accident.
9. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the leading
environmental nongovernmental organization (NGO) in India.
CSE works on environment-development issues in India, poor
planning, climate shifts.
Example: CSE exposed the high level of pesticides present in soft
drinks such as Coke and Pepsi.
10. PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: it is an
animal rights organization which prevent abuse and cruelty to
animals.
11. Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) was the first-
ever animal shelter of its kind in Bengaluru.
12. People for Animals (PFA) works to rescue and rehabilitate
sick and needy animals. They set up and run shelters, ambulance
services, sterilization programs, treatment camps and disaster
rescue missions for animals.
Environmental Legislation
Environmental legislation is the collection of laws and regulations
pertaining to air quality, water quality, endangered wildlife, and
other environmental factors. In 1972, first major effort to conserve
and protect the human environment at the international level was
held. As a result, the States were required to approve legislative
mandate to protect and improve the environment in concerned
State.
On June 5, 1972, the United Nations General Assembly
established World Environment Day as a day to raise people's
awareness and take action on environmental problems. Each year,
World Environment Day focuses on a specific theme related to
environmental challenges.
Importance of celebrating Environmental day:
1. Raises Awareness: It helps people understand the importance of
nature and the need to protect it.
2. Encourages Action: It motivates individuals, communities, and
governments to take positive environmental actions.
3. Addresses Global Issues: It focuses on pressing environmental
issues like pollution, climate change, deforestation, and wildlife
conservation.
4. Promotes Sustainability: It encourages sustainable living and
responsible use of resources.
Environmental day theme (2024) is "Land Restoration,
Desertification, and Drought Resilience." It's about bringing back
healthy land, preventing deserts from growing, and dealing with
water shortages.
The protection and improvement of environment is a fundamental
duty under Constitution Act of 1976. Indian Parliament inserted two
Articles, i.e., 48–A and 51–A(g) in the Indian Constitution in 1976.
Article 48–A of the Constitution rightly directs that the State shall
endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard
forests and wildlife of the country. Article 51– A(g) imposes a duty on
every citizen of India, to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests, lakes, river, and wildlife and to have
compassion for living creatures.
ACTS:
1. Wildlife [Protection] Act, 1972 was passed to provide
protection for wild animals, plants, and birds. This Act
prohibits hunting of birds and animals as specified in the
schedules of this Act. This Act also prohibits damaging,
uprooting, picking, destroying etc. any specified plant from any
forest.
2. Water [Prevention and Control of Pollution] Act, 1974-
provides for the prevention and control of water pollution.
3. Forest [Conservation] Act, 1980 was enacted to analysis and
check deforestation of forests.
4. Air [Prevention and Control of Pollution] Act, 1981 has been
designed to prevent, control and abatement of air pollution in
the climate.
5. Environment [Protection] Act, 1986 was enacted to provide
for the protection and improvement of the quality of
environment and preventing, controlling, and abating
environmental pollution. The Act came into existence as a
direct result of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
6. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 provide for strict
obligation for compensations produced by any accident that
happens while dealing with any dangerous material in
factories. It draws inspiration from India's constitutional
provision of Article 21 Protection of life and personal liberty,
which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy
environment. This Act provides for establishment of a
National Environment Tribunal for effective, speedy, and
expeditious disposal of cases related to environmental
protection, conservation of forests, and other natural
resources. This imposes legal liability on the owner of an
enterprise to pay damages or compensation in case of death
or injury to any person; or harm to any property or
environment resulted from an accident occurred while
handling hazardoussubstances.
• Department of Environment was formed in the year
1980, latter on they changed the name to Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985. Although
tackling climate change was already a responsibility of
the ministry, its priority was raised when in May 2014
the ministry was renamed to the current title of Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. (MoEFCC)
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a
statutory organization under the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It
was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention
and Control of pollution) Act, 1974. It Co-ordinates the
activities of the State Pollution Control Boards by
providing technical assistance and guidance and
resolves disputes among them.
International bodies
➢ UN- United Nations
➢ WHO -The World Health Organization
➢ FAO - The Food and Agriculture Organization
➢ UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
➢ UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund, previously called United
Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
➢ IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources, it was previously called International Union
for the Protection of Nature (IUPN). It is an international
organization working in the field of nature
conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
▪ The organization (IUCN) is known for compiling and
publishing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Red
data book), which assesses the conservation status of
species worldwide.
▪ IUCN was involved in establishing the WWF and the World
Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC).
1. The WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), working in the field
of wilderness preservation, and the reduction of human impact on the
environment. It was formerly named the “World Wildlife Fund”. WWF
aims to "stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and
to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.
2. World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) it works with
scientists and policy makers worldwide to place biodiversity at
the heart of environment and development decision-making to
enable enlightened choices for people and the planet. It also
address the relationship between trade and the environment
and the wider aspects of biodiversity assessment.
➢ UNEP -United Nations Environment Program also called UN
Environment coordinates the organization's environmental
activities and assists developing countries in
implementing environment policies and practices. UNEP has also
been active in funding and implementing environment related
development projects.
➢ UNDP - United Nations Development Program. It advocates for
change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and
resources to help people build a better life for themselves.
