Module 2

INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING

Module 2
Societal and Global impact of infrastructure

Infrastructure

1.1 Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals

• Sustainable engineering is the process of designing or operating systems such that they use energy
and resources sustainably, i.e., at a rate that does not compromise the natural environment, or the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Sustainability in civil engineering practices can improve industry standards and lessen the
environmental impact by transitioning to more affordable and sustainable materials. Renewable
resources may also be longer-lasting, requiring less frequent repair and saving money and
resources over the long term.

Principles of sustainable design:

• Optimising the use of the sun
• Improvising indoor air quality
• Using the land responsibly
• Creating high performance and moisture resistant houses
• Careful utilisation of Earth’s natural resources

Importance of Sustainable Construction:

1. Sustainable Design- When the plan and designs of the project are taking place, sustainable
development project plans and designs have to be adopted. The sooner sustainable options are
involved in a construction project, the better sustainability of the structure which therefore leads
to long term environment friendly benefits for the structure.
2. Durability- The cost and expertise used for maintenance and replacement of materials can be
greatly reduced and less frequent on using durable materials.
3. Energy Efficiency- In a construction process if the demand for energy usage is reduced, the
amount of fuel consumed is decreased and therefore CO2 emission into the atmosphere is
ultimately reduced. This sustainable development project method adds up as a contribution to
reducing global warming.
4. Waste Reduction- Materials are used efficiently and with better accuracy to avoid excess
wattage of materials. Materials with less impact value and higher sustainable quotient must be
preferred along with better recycling ways.
5. Improved Air Quality- Air quality degradation due to unsustainable development project
processes can increase indoor as well as outdoor pollution. Sustainable development projects
have many provisions for preventing air pollution and better structural designs.

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6. Conservation of Water- The increasing global temperature and pollution has increasingly
reduced the amount of fresh water supplies. Sustainable development projects are essential thus
take steps to use water sustainably in sustainable construction processes.
7. Eco-Friendly Materials- Eco-friendly materials or sustainable construction materials form the
base of sustainable development project methods that have zero or minimal impact on the
environment as well as the community.

Benefits of Sustainable Construction:

• Cost Efficient- Sustainable construction can be considered as an essential alternative that is smart
and more versatile. Sustainable development projects or Green building projects are much
cheaper than traditional construction and use less resources.
• Minimal Waste- Sustainable development projects produce much less waste than other
construction projects. Green buildings have low impact on the environment and mostly use
renewable resources.
• Noise Resistance- Eco-friendly or sustainable construction mat

1.2 Smart City

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
A smart city is a municipality that uses information and communication technologies (ICT) to
increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve both the quality of
government services and citizen welfare.

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The characteristics used to determine a city's smartness include:
• a technology-based infrastructure;
• environmental initiatives;
• a high functioning public transportation system;
• a confident sense of urban planning and
• humans to live and work within the city and utilize its resources.

The infrastructure elements in a Smart City are:

• adequate water supply
• assured electricity supply
• sanitation, including solid waste management
• efficient urban mobility and public transport
• affordable housing, especially for the poor
• robust IT connectivity and digitalization
• good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation
• sustainable environment
• safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly
• health and education.

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How a smart city works:
Smart cities utilize their web of connected IoT devices and other technologies to achieve their goals
of improving the quality of life and achieving economic growth. Successful smart cities follow four
steps:
1. Collection - Smart sensors throughout the city gather data in real time.
2. Analysis - Data collected by the smart sensors is assessed in order to draw meaningful
insights.
3. Communication - The insights that have been found in the analysis phase are communicated
with decision makers through strong communication networks.
4. Action - Cities use the insights pulled from the data to create solutions, optimize operations
and asset management and improve the quality of life for residents.

Advantages of smart cities:

• The primary goal of a smart city is to create an urban environment that yields a high quality of
life to its residents while also generating overall economic growth.
• A major advantage of smart cities is their ability to facilitate an increased delivery of services to
citizens with less infrastructure and cost.
• Smart city applications can enable improvements, advance city operations and improve the
quality of life among residents.
• Smart city applications enable cities to find and create new value from their existing
infrastructure.
• The improvements facilitate new revenue streams and operational efficiencies, helping
governments and citizens save money.

Examples of smart cities:

• Amaravati, Indore, Madurai, Vellore - India
• New York City, New York
• Tokyo, Japan
• London, England
• Melbourne, Australia
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Hong Kong, China

1.3 Clean City

'Clean city' refers to a city that is free from pollution and environment degradation. The citizens
are conscientious and self-aware, they buy eco-friendly products, they recycle and constantly look
for better solutions instead of opting for the easier ones.

Importance of clean city: Cleanliness of surrounding is very important as a hygienic environment

provide us good health. Without proper cleanliness we will be exposed with various diseases like
diarrhoea, food poisoning and skin infection etc.

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Benefits of Clean city:
• Reduced exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals from industrial wastes
• Prevents illnesses and sickness
• Increases the overall productivity of the place and causes it to grow
• It creates good impression for the possible foreign and local investors with in the city (economic
boost)
• It ensures safety for the everyone living in the city.

How to achieve clean city:

• Segregate waste properly.
• Learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Grow plants in houses.
• Conduct plant waste treatment within the city.
• Stop burning of plastics.
• Burry the biodegradable wastes.
• Participate in clean up drives within your city.
• Conduct symposiums and promote proper waste management.
• Work with your local helpers in handling the waste properly within your city.
• Participate in saving environmental areas from pollution in your city.

1.4 Safe City:

It refers to the duty and function of the state to ensure the safety of its citizens, organisations and
institutions against threats to their well-being as well as the traditional functions of law and order.
The safe city concept typically promotes inter-operability across law enforcement, emergency
services and other government agencies (public health, border control, social services) to streamline
operations and provides 'situational awareness' to all stakeholders involved in the management of a
city's security.

Objective of safe city: The safe city programme addresses one of the basic aspects of urban life
and critical components for sustainable of social and economic development which are the need
to bring down the rate of crimes, prevent violence and provide the best safe environment to the
people in a city.

How to achieve safe city:

• Avoid urban sprawl.
• Slow down road traffic.
• Ensure main streets are safe for everyone, not just cars.
• Create dedicated space for pedestrians.
• Provide a safe, connected network for cyclists.
• Ensure safe access to high-quality public transport.
• Use data to detect problem areas.
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Importance of safe city : If implemented properly, a Safe City program can be important, not only
in preventing and solving crime but also in working quietly behind the scenes to make people feel
safe, universally improving quality of life.

Environment
2.1 Water supply and sanitary systems
Water supply engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the system for the collection,
transmission, treatment, storage and distribution of water from source to consumers. For example,
homes, commercial establishments, industry, irrigation facilities and public agencies for water—
related activities (fire—fighting, street flushing and etc).

Sanitary engineering is a branch of public health engineering that deals with the prevention and
maintenance of health of the individual and the community by preventing communicable diseases.

Importance / necessity of water supply scheme:

Water is required for the following purposes:
• For drinking and cooking
• For bathing and washing
• For watering of lawns and gardens
• For heating and air conditioning
• For growing of crops
• For street washing
• For fire fighting
• For recreation in swimming pools , fountains and cascades
• For steam power and various industrial processes, etc.

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Benefits of water supply scheme:

• Availability of sufficient quantity of water
• Availability of good quality water
• Decrease in water borne diseases
• Sanitation of the area is considerably improved by adequate water supply
• Water is used economically and losses and wastage are reduced
• Growth in industries due to availability of sufficient quantity of water
• Increase in opportunities of employment to local people
• Growth of new industries that results in employment opportunities.

2.2 Urban air pollution management

Urban air pollution refers to air pollution in and around cities. Volcanic eruptions, thunder,
dust from the earth's surface, and naturally occurring particulate matter are all natural sources of
urban air pollution.

Sources of Urban Air Pollution:

• Transportation - The primary source of urban air pollution is the use of private vehicles
(particularly older, diesel models).
• Use of fossil fuels in the home - These fuels, which include wood, charcoal, and coal, are burned
in inefficient stoves, which emit large amounts of health-harming particulate matter and climate-
warming pollutants into the surrounding environment.
• Generation of electricity - Coal-fired power plants are a significant source of urban air pollution.
• Agriculture and Combustion - Agriculture also emits other gases into the atmosphere, such
as NO2 and methane (CH4).

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• Exploding Fireworks - It may not be the primary cause of air pollution, but it certainly
contributes to its accumulation.
• Dust Storm from the Gulf States

Effect / Issues of Urban air pollution:

• On Ecosystem: Acidification of lakes, eutrophication, and mercury accumulation in aquatic food
are all effects on the marine ecosystem. Soil acidification and Soil pollution has an indirect
impact on the ecosystems of plants and animals that rely on soil for nutrition.
• On Biodiversity: Acid rain is caused by the oxidation and wet deposition of SO2 and
NOX emissions in the atmosphere as a result of air pollution. As a result, acid rain can have a
negative impact on our biodiversity. Ozone reduces photosynthesis and causes plants to grow
more slowly and also affects lung tissues in both animals and humans, causing respiratory
problems.
• On Human Health: People who live in areas with poor air quality and high pollution levels are
at risk of serious health problems.
• On Materials and Buildings: SOX and NOX emissions can harm flora and fauna, and material
surfaces, and even cause structural damage. The negative effects may include discolouration,
material loss, structural failure, and soiling.Example - Taj Mahal

Initiatives by Government to Combat Air Pollution:

• Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards , industry-specific emission and
effluent standards.
• Establishing a monitoring network to assess the quality of the ambient air.
• Cleaner gaseous fuels such as CNG, LPG, and ethanol blending are being introduced.
• The National Air Quality Index (AQI) is being launched.
• Vehicle standards will be upgraded from BS-IV to BS-VI by April 1st, 2020.
• The burning of biomass is prohibited.
• Public transportation network promotion.
• Certificate of Pollution Control.
• Directions issued under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981.
• Installation of continuous (24x7) online monitoring devices by 17 polluting industrial
sectors.
• Controlling the bursting of polluting crackers.

2.3 Solid waste management

The term solid waste management mainly refers to the complete process of collecting, treating and
disposing of solid wastes.
In the waste management process, the wastes are collected from different sources and are disposed.
This process includes collection, transportation, treatment, analysis and disposal of waste.

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Sources of Solid Wastes:
• Solid domestic garbage.
• Solid waste material from various industries.
• Solid agricultural waste.
• Plastics, glass, metals, e-waste, etc.
• Medical waste.
• Construction waste, sewage sludge

Disposal of Waste:
In India, the processes differ according to the source of solid waste. They can be classified as:
⦁ Municipal Solid Waste.
⦁ Hazardous Solid Waste.
Municipal solid waste can further be divided into biodegradable, recyclable and hazardous domestic
wastes. The biodegradable waste includes rotten food, vegetable peel and mostly wet kitchen waste.
Recyclable waste includes plastic and hazardous wastes include, bulb, batteries, etc.

The industry generated waste from chemical factories, medical waste from hospitals are considered
as Hazardous Solid Waste and they need special settings to dispose of them.

In any region, solid waste management is very important for the safe disposal of wastes and to
reduce environmental pollution and avoid any health hazards that it may cause.
Landfills are the most common method of disposing of solid wastes. Modern-day landfills are
designed by taking care of various environmental factors and types of wastes, so as to minimise
pollution and health risks.

2.4 Landfill sites

A landfill site is an area of land that is used to dump rubbish, either directly on the ground or filling
an unwanted hole in the ground.

Characteristics of landfill site:

There are four critical elements in a secure landfill: a bottom liner, a leachate collection system, a
cover, and the natural hydro-geologic setting. The natural setting can be selected to minimize the
possibility of wastes escaping to groundwater beneath a landfill. The three other elements must be
engineered.

Landfills - Significance:
• Excellent Energy Source: Landfills act as excellent energy source due to the fact that they
generate carbon dioxide and methane when the waste starts decomposing. These gases can be
extracted, purified, and used to generate energy.

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• Eco-friendly: The landfills are designed with technology in mind; good soil lining and a
leachate control system ensure minimal seepage or damage.
• Cleanliness And Waste Management: Landfills help in maintaining cleanliness in cities,
towns, and districts. Landfills are places where recyclable and non-recyclable waste can be
dumped separately.
• Good Storage Facility: They also serve as a storage facility for more hazardous goods that
must be kept away from the general population.
• Low Cost Option: The waste in the landfill will just have to travel a short distance to the
dump, lowering transportation expenditures.
• Pollution Reduction: This will also help to reduce pollution caused by garbage
transportation.
• Employment Generation: More landfills in the area offer more job opportunities and a
higher quality of life for residents.

2.5 Urban flooding

Urban flooding describes the flooding of land or property within a constructed environment,
especially in locations that are more densely inhabited (like cities), as a result of excessive rainfall
that exceeds the capacity of drainage systems.
Urban areas are densely populated and people living in vulnerable areas suffer due to flooding,
sometimes resulting in loss of life. It is not only the event of flooding but the secondary effect of
exposure to infection also has its toll in terms of human suffering, loss of livelihood, and, in
extreme cases, loss of life.

Causes of urban flooding:

1. Natural causes:
• Higher rainfall
• Storm surges and frequent depressions in open waters
• Depleting groundwater tables
• Heavy melting of snow causes flash floods in lower catchment areas

2. Anthropogenic causes:
• Encroachments on drainage areas like lakes, wetlands, and riverbeds close off ways for the
excess water to flow thus causing floods.
• Climate change has disrupted the rainfall pattern; also, urban heat lands have increased
rainfall over urban areas resulting in flooding.
• Pollution of water bodies (with non-biodegradable waste) is choking up the pathways for
excess water to flow.
• Illegal mining activities in rivers deplete the natural bed causing soil erosion and reducing the
water retention capacity of the water body.

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• Unplanned and uninformed release of water from dams causes devastation as the public does
not get enough time to respond.
• The importance of Flood governance is also not taken seriously by the administrators.

Impacts of urban flooding:

• It causes loss of life and property directly and indirectly due to the chances of spreading of
water-borne infections.
• It disrupts the normal working of the city by damaging water supply, sewerage, power
transmission lines, communication, transportation, and infrastructure.
• The environment is further damaged as the vegetation gets washed away during the extreme
flow of water.
• Animals also suffer from diseases and loss of shelter due to flooding.
• Hygiene is compromised and diseases spread when sewage and solid waste wash into houses
and buildings.
• The psychological impact of losing lives and property is huge and the recovery process is
tiresome and time-consuming leading to long-lasting trauma in people.

Measures to prevent Urban Flooding:

1. Need for Climate Resilient Infrastructure
2. Early Warning Systems and Communication
3. Design and Management of Urban Drainage System
4. Rainwater Harvesting
5. Conservation of Water Bodies
6. Role of Science and Technology in preventing urban flooding

Built environment
3.1 Energy efficient buildings:
An energy-efficient building balances all aspects of energy use in a building by providing an
optimised mix of passive solar–design strategies, energy-efficient equipment, and renewable
sources of energy.

Benefits of energy efficient buildings:

• Reduced operational and maintenance costs
• Tax incentives
• Improved property value
• Better tenant comfort
• Lower greenhouse emissions

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What is energy efficiency in a building:
• Nearly Zero-Energy Passive Building Design
• Utilisation of Low Embodied Energy Building Materials
• Usage of Energy-Efficient Equipment
• Integration of Renewable Energy Technologies in Different Applications

How do energy-efficient buildings help the environment:

The efficient use of energy in buildings is one of the most affordable ways to lessen the detrimental
effects of climate change, health problems, unemployment, and poverty. It reduces household
expenses, infrastructure costs, and reduces CO2 emissions.

Ways To Improve Energy Efficiency in Buildings:

• Daylight utilisation
• Rework your insulation
• Choose the right ventilation system
• Buy energy certified equipment
• Switch to LED lighting
• Regulate heating and cooling with thermostats
• Fix leaks in your building
• Switch to renewable energy
• Solar Panelled Roofs
• Increasing Natural Lighting
• Creating an Airtight Envelope
• Improving Insulation
• Installing Smart Devices

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3.2 Recycling:
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. This concept
often includes the recovery of energy from waste materials. The recyclability of a material depends
on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state.

Importance of recycling:
• It reduces the number of fresh raw materials we use
• It reduces the amount of energy we use
• It reduces air pollution
• It reduces water pollution
• It lowers the amount of greenhouse gases

How are materials recycled:

Materials are wither brought to a centre that collects recycled materials or they are picked up from
recycling bins that are on the streets. The materials are then sorted, cleaned and reprocessed into
new materials

3.3 Temperature and Sound control in buildings:

Thermal control regulates the temperature within a structure. It aids in maintaining steady heating
and cooling temperatures during season changes throughout the year. Additionally, it helps to ensure
quality and comfort among the occupants inside and increase satisfaction.

Sound control in commercial buildings refers to the process of reducing noise levels and improving
room acoustics for optimal acoustic comfort. It involves using materials, products, and noise
reduction techniques to: Block out external noises. Reduce unwanted noise transmission between
rooms and floors.

Need for temperature control in a building:

It aids in maintaining steady heating and cooling temperatures during season changes throughout
the year. Additionally, it helps to ensure quality and comfort among the occupants inside and
increase satisfaction. Thermal control focuses on the transfer of heat within a building to either keep
it cool or warm.

Need for sound control in a building:

Noise is unwanted sound. It can cause hearing loss, disturb communication or cause nuisance.
Noise control is a set of strategies to reduce noise pollution or to reduce impact , whether outdoors
or indoors.Excessive noise presents a risk of hearing damage and other health problems. The degree
of hearing loss depends on the loudness of the noise and how long you are exposed to it.

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Construction Techniques for temperature Control in Buildings:
Green thermal control techniques are solar power (which can be both passive and active), hydronic
heating, ice-powered air conditioners, green coal, wind power, absorption, and biomass.

Construction Techniques for Noise Control in Buildings:

• Construction of walls: Walls are the important structural components of the Buildings which
protect the internal environment from the external noise.
• Use of Cavity walls in the partition: The use of cavity walls in partition proves to be very
efficient for sound resistance in the Buildings.
• By increasing thickness and mass of the wall: The noise resistance of the material depends
upon the mass of that material. The more the mass of material more will be noise resistance.
• Use of Acoustic blankets in airspace: This is also known as isolation blankets which can
increase sound attenuation when placed in the airspace.
• Use of different panels: The panels used should be of different materials and thicknesses. This
will improve the sound insulation property of the walls.
• Construction of windows: Windows are one of the major sources from where the sound enters
into the structures.
• Reduction in size of windows: It is a very useful method to resist the sound enters into the
structures.
• Increasing thickness of the glass: The noise can be resisted by increasing the thickness of the
glass. It is also necessary that proper sealing should be done in order to increase the effectiveness
of soundproofing.
• Installation of double glazed windows: It is an effective method that increases airspace width,
glass thickness which helps in noise resistance.

3.4 Security systems:

Home security systems are networks of integrated electronic devices working together with a
central control panel to protect against burglars and other potential home intruders.
A basic home security system includes:
• A control panel or base station with a separate keypad
• Door and window sensors
• Motion sensors
• Glass break sensors
• Security cameras
But there are plenty of other devices available to enhance your home's security, including smart
home products and environmental sensors.

Factors to consider when choosing security:

• Stage of building - Constructing or designing
• Type of building

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• Building location
• Logistics - Positioning of the security system controls
• Remote monitoring
• Environmental issues

Importance / Purpose of security systems:

Building security protects assets, property, and occupants from perpetrators of violence, intruders,
and hazardous situations that can potentially cause damage or harm. Its goal is to detect, prevent,
deter, and respond to physical security violations.

Types of building security systems:

• Physical guards - Static and non static , Armed or undercover
• Physical barriers - Windows, Burglar bars, Gates and screens, Fence
• Fire systems - Fire detection, fire suspension, fire hose and extinguishers
• CCTV
• Alarms
• Access controls

3.5 Smart buildings:

Smart buildings, or smart facilities, are those that use information and communications technology-
based systems, services and technology to optimise the facility's performance. Building systems,
including heating, ventilation and security, are equipped with networked sensors that continually
provide information about the condition and performance of those systems.

Benefits of smart buildings/ smart facilities:

• Environmental benefits and cost savings: Smart buildings reduce energy costs through real-
time adjustments of heating, cooling, lighting and other systems based on changes in weather and
building occupancy.
• Risk mitigation: The monitoring and remote-control capabilities of smart building systems
enable supervisors to catch problems early, and often help prevent them.
• A safer occupant experience: Smart buildings that use surveillance and security systems
improve the experience for occupants by providing a safer, better-protected place to live and work
• Lower operational costs: A smart building can, for example, leverage data it collects to reduce
use of electric lighting by adjusting shades to let in more natural light.
• Lower energy costs: Connecting lighting, shades, and HVAC systems, for instance, enables
building operators to automatically adjust temperature, shades, and lighting based on time of day
and occupancy.
• Greater flexibility: Smart-building data can be used, for example, to detect changes in
occupancy density. The building's HVAC systems then adjust airflow, humidity, and temperature
appropriately.

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How does a smart building work:
A smart building uses its intelligence to collect actionable data from user devices, sensors, systems,
and services on the premises. Applying that data using artificial intelligence and machine learning
(AI/ML) makes the building both programmable and responsive to the needs of the users and the
building manager.
The intelligence of the network also helps secure the network. For instance, the network can
identify and segment devices and learn their behaviour, to improve detection of anomalies and
intrusions.

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