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Design of Greenbelt for an Industrial Complex Based on Mathematical Modelling
Environmental Technology
Abstract
Greenbelt is a strip of vegetation for which species of trees and shrubs are scientifically chosen and planted to serve a designated purpose such as control of wind erosion, of dust, of noise etc. In the context of air pollution attenuation, greenbelts must be developed around a source of air pollutant in a manner so as to effectively reduce the pollution caused by that source. Design of effective greenbelts involves consideration of meteorological, physico-chemical, biological, and horticultural aspects relevant to pollutant source and the area where greenbelt has to be established. These authors have recently developed mathematical models for effective design of greenbelts. This paper presents an overview of the methodology based on the models, and describes a case study in which the methodology has been applied to design a greenbelt for a real-life situation.
... But no new model was developed by [14]. The present authors have built upon the previous work and advanced it in the following terms [15][16][17][18]. ...
... The first two parts of the process have to be accomplished as elaborated in Figures 2 and 3. The design algorithm is presented in Figure 4. Details of the model-building, validation, and some of the applications have been extensively reported [1,[15][16][17][18][19]. ...
... In this article we have presented a mathematical model to assist in the design of greenbelts. The application of the model [1,[15][16][17][18][19] demonstrates its validity. The study also underscores the fact that without determining the correct geometry of the greenbelt on the basis of pollutant dispersionattenuation modeling, it is not possible to derive much benefit from a greenbelt. ...
... • Designing Green belts on scientific base to serve as wind and dust and as well as a noise control [20]. ...
... GB is a condensed planted zone in either closed loops or linear structures and has been in use since decades for three key purposes: (1) management of urban expansion, (2) abatement of industrial air pollution, or (3) combatting desertification. Several studies were reported for the first two purposes, evaluating the greenbelt's structure (i.e., depth, density, etc.), and trees' air pollution tolerance (APT) (Benítez et al., 2018;Karmakar and Padhy, 2019;Khan and Abbasi, 2002;Patiño and i Garcia, 2015;Yadav and Pandey, 2020). Although very few academic studies are available on GB to combat desertification, it has been employed in real-world projects, such as the Great Green Wall across Africa to contain the Sahara Desert (UNCCD, 2021) and the Three-North Shelter Forest Program to hold back Gobi Desert in northern China (Suo and Cao, 2021). ...
Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) is one of the most prominent energy crops due to its superior agronomical traits, where it can grow in non-arable lands and harsh climates with minimal water requirements. A significant number of studies were published on the utilisation of JCL for biofuel production, whereas there are no studies on its use in greenbelt (GB) or windbreak technologies reported thus far. Meanwhile, a few approaches on the delineation of greenbelts to fight desertification in the arid regions exist in literature. This study presents a novel approach to delineate a multipurpose energy-greenbelt using JCL crop for biofuel production, as well as to preserve the soil and enhance air quality, thereby helping to combat desertification and sand-dust storms (SDS). The methodology is demonstrated using a case study in the state of Qatar for the diversification of its renewable energy resources. Moreover, Qatar is also suffering from land degradation due to erosion factors and desert creep. A multi-dimensional approach is proposed for this purpose using satellite and meteorological data to initially select the optimal plantation sites that potentially contribute to the highest possible biofuel yield. The spatial analysis was carried out using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique for multi-criteria decision making in the geographic information system (ArcGIS). In addition, the Landsat and MODIS satellite imagery were utilised in combination with historical records from the weather stations to evaluate the patterns of SDS, land degradation and urban expansion, to best define optimal GB pathway. COMSOL Multiphysics software was subsequently employed to evaluate the performance of Jatropha-GB and determine its optimal density. The different solutions for GB delineation spans 166.6–227.8 km length and (6 × 6 m) of field density. It is expected that the economic and environmental benefits from the derived GB configuration include: (a) protection of up to 87% of Qatar farms against further deterioration; (b) yield of up to 36 M gallon of green liquid fuels; (c) capture of 0.33 M tonnes of CO2 per 1 km GB-depth annually; and (d) provide a better air quality for around 95% of the Qatar population.
... The sensitive plants can be used as indicators and tolerant plants can be used as a prick for air pollutants. Plants have been categorized into groups according to their degree of sensitivity toward and tolerance of various air pollutants (Khan and Abbasi, 2002). Tolerances to air pollution alter from species to species, depending on plants capacity to endure the effect of pollutants without exhibition any external damage. ...
Air pollution is one of the main environmental problems in many cities around the world. Controlling this kind of pollution is more complex than other environmental challenges. Many plants can absorb and save some of the environmental pollutants through their leaves. Therefore, air pollution tolerance index (APTI) was tested in polluted and blank areas in six plant species, namely, Conocarpus, Myrtus, Prosopis, Eucalyptus, Ziziphus, and Lebbek, which are abundant in the Ahvaz region during 2014. Dust deposition on leaf surfaces was determined to observe the extent of particulate deposition. The highest and the lowest deposition rates were observed in Myrtus (maximum 80.3 g.m-2 in polluted site) and Lebbek (minimum 10.7 g.m-2 in blank site), respectively. The APTI was calculated to be 4.97 for Prosopis, 5.25 for Ziziphus, 6.24 for Lebbek, 6.59 for Conocarpus, 6.77 for Eucalyptus and 7.80 for Myrtus in blank site and 4.57 for Prosopis, 4.82 for Ziziphus, 5.79 for Lebbek, 5.84 for Eucalyptus, 6.30 for Conocarpus and 7.21 for Myrtus in the polluted area at the end of study. The APTI showed that Myrtus is resistant to plant pollution, whereas Prosopis is sensitive to plant pollution. In addition, the results of assessment of the above mentioned index showed that plants with higher APTI can be used as reducers of pollution and plants with lower APTI can be used to measure air pollution. © 2016, Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum. All rights reserved.
... Plants have been categorized into groups according to their degree of sensitivity toward and tolerance of various air pollutants on the basis of experiment and available data ( Kagamimori et al., 1978;Bhattacharya, 1983;Khan and Abbasi, 2002). Levels of tolerance to air pollution vary from species to species, depending on the capacity of plants to withstand the effect of pollutants without showing any external damage. ...
In the present study, the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of ten plant species collected from an urban area has been evaluated by analyzing important biochemical parameters. High values of APTI were recorded in Psidium guajava (31.75%); Swietenia mahoganii(28.08%); Mangifera indica (27.97%); Polyanthia longifolia (25.58%) and Ficus benghalensis (25.02%). The Anticipated Performance Index (API) of these plant species was also calculated by considering their APTI values together with other socio-economic and biological parameters. According to API most tolerant plant species for green belt development were Ficus benghalensis (87%); Mangifera indica (87%); Swietenia mahoganii (87%) and Saraca indica (81%).
... A suitable alternative may be to develop a biological method by growing green plants in and around industrial and urban areas. To check the spread of air pollutants emitted from an industrial complex, many scientists recommend growing green vegetation in and around the industrial/urban area [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. ...
Vegetation naturally cleanses the atmosphere by absorbing gases and some particulate matter through leaves. Plants have a very large surface area and their leaves function as an efficient pollutant‐trapping device. Some plants have been classified according to their degree of sensitivity and tolerance towards various air pollutants. Sensitive plant species are suggested to act as bio‐indicators. Levels of air pollution tolerance vary from species to species, depending on the capacity of plants to withstand the effect of pollutants without showing any external damage. In this study, the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of 30 plant species has been evaluated. High values of APTI were recorded in Mangifera indica, Moringa pterydosperma, Cassia renigera and Ailanthus excelsa. The anticipated performance index (API) of 30 plant species has also been evaluated for green belt (GB) development in and around an industrial urban area in India. Using APTI and this performance rating, the most tolerant plants have been identified.
Urban air pollution due to industrial emissions and vehicular emission due to automobiles have aggravated the problem of environmental pollution. Plants are known to act as sink for air pollutants. Planting of trees and shrubs in the form of greenbelt around the industry is an effective way for abatement of pollution and improvement of environment and is well recognized throughout the world. This article provides a brief review of the history and evolution of work on greenbelt development for pollution attenuation in an industry. It also reviews work on different aspects of greenbelt design and selection of plant species, which can be grown around industrial/urban areas in India. A reported case study carried out at petroleum refinery is discussed. At this plant, green belt of 500m width was found to be 36-40% efficient in removal of SO 2, NOx & SPM and 84-94% efficient in removal of THC, VOC & CO. The future line of work is suggested for collecting data on the potential of greenbelts in attenuating the pollutants.
All over the world, tens of thousands of oxidation ponds are in operation treating sewage and other biodegradable wastewaters. The performance of such ponds can be greatly enhanced if certain aquatic weeds are held in them. The weeds enable better treatment of wastewater in terms of greater reduction in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorous, metals, etc., than is possible in ponds functioning without the weeds. The additional costs of this ‘upgradation’ are minimal compared to the gains, because it essentially involves introduction in the ponds of easily available plants that have no economic value. This paper presents the gist of the know-how utilizable in ‘upgrading’ existing oxidation ponds with the help of aquatic weeds but without any significant additional civil works. It also dwells upon the strategies for the management of the weeds, and their postharvest utilization.
The article draws attention towards the importance ofgreenbelts in attenuating gaseous pollutants andpresents the meteorological, physico-chemical,biological, and horticultural dimensions associatedwith effective greenbelt design.We have presented the gist of a system ofmethodologies, developed by us, for greenbelt design. A case study demonstrating the applicability of thesystem has been presented.
A model for the estimation of the pollution attenuation factor of a green belt around a ground level pollution source is developed using a combination of an exponential law for dry removal of pollution within a plant canopy and a source depletion model for removal outside the canopy. A formulation for the estimation of the pollution attenuation coefficient of the exponential law is proposed and the same is tested for particulate material using the experimental data available in the literature. The dependence of the pollution attenuation factor on various parameters of the green belt is illustrated for paniculate pollution. The results show that this model can be used to optimize the design of a green belt in order to achieve a desired value of attenuation of pollution around an industry.
The three aspects of accidents in chemical process industries which cause most serious damage—explosions, fires, and toxic releases—can all be controlled to some extent if greenbelts are present around the affected industry. We have recently developed and validated a system of methodologies for greenbelt design. In this paper we present the application of these models in designing greenbelts and forecasting their role in cushioning the impact of accidental release of toxic gases. With properly located and designed greenbelts as much as 33% of the accidental release of SO2, 43% of H2S, and 51% of NH3 under stable atmospheric conditions (in which the dispersion is very slow and the release thus has maximum toxic impact) can be absorbed.
An analytical model for heavy gas dispersion based on the modifications in plume path theory has been developed. The model takes into account the variations in temperature, density, and specific heat during the movement of heavy gas plume. The model has been tested for three hazardous gases - chlorine, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. The results have been compared with the recently generated experimental data as also with the outputs of other models. A good agreement is observed qualitatively as well as quantitatively. A study has also been carried out to simulate the effect of the wind speed, density of the gas, and venting speed on dispersion. Based on the simulation study a set of empirical equations has been developed. The equations are validated by theoretical as well as experimental studies.