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The use of lightweight concrete aggregate in structures can offer advantages such as a reduction in dead load along with a reduction in plate and beam dimensions. Considering its use, artificial LWA’s significantly lower costs are also crucial. Whilst lightweight concrete aggregate is more water absorbed and more porous, design strategies can be used and applied with difficulty.The treatment of LWA with chemicals, together with several other unintended side effects, has proven effective but not environmentally friendly. This led to a study into the fields of biology for a proper solution to the problems.The use of microbiologically induced calcite precipitation was a forerunner in this investigation. This paper describes the physical effects of Bacillus Sphaericus on Lightweight Aggregate Concrete when exposed to it in a Calcitrate and LML extract medium, as well as an analysis of the effects of surface treatment via the bacteria on the LWA. For this study, the LWA were submerged in the Calcitrate and LML Extract solution for half an hour, then drained and kept in an oven at 39°C for 4 days, and after repeating twice, they were used in the mix according to the mix design, and the effects were observed.The results showed a reduction of 5% in water absorption, 15% increase in comp. strength and Higher Workability than standard samples.

The purpose of any structural establishment is to provide shelter and stability to its inhabitants, along with safety and assurance of provision of fundamental amenities and functionalities. In this day and age, with multitudinous and revolutionary advancements being carried out in the field of construction and material technology globally, it is of utmost importance that our scientists, engineers and students factor in the environmental crisis at hand and derive technical solutions to combat degradation of our natural resources for the generations to come. Starting off with the basal ingredients involved in construction, we can devise ways in which we can achieve the most by utilizing the least.This study is aimed at determining the effects and variation in mechanical properties of concrete due to the addition of varying percentages of carbon powder (activated charcoal and graphite) derived from PAN polymer – Polyacrylonitrile Polymer, through extensive literature review and experimental tests in the laboratory. Carbon powder (Activated Charcoal and Graphite) is known to reduce propagation of crack width and introduce crack bridging in the structure. It is a worthy ingredient, which provides secondary reinforcement to steel-reinforced concrete specimens. In addition to the mechanical properties it imparts to the structure, carbon powder also leads to development of light-weight concrete, by compensating amount of aggregate and cement we use in the batching process.The study also aims to compare the results obtained from the testing of Carbon Reinforced Concrete specimens with those of Conventional Concrete. In accordance with the prevailing standardized IS codes, we procured and performed preliminary tests on the basic ingredients of concrete to determine the physical and mechanical properties. Upon extensively studying the mix design of concrete, appropriate mix design was prepared for 3 different samples, namely, conventional concrete cube, concrete with activated charcoal powder and concrete with graphite powder. On the basis of mix designs, the tests on concrete are performed as per relevant IS codes.Furthermore, the procedure for testing carbon-reinforced concrete in terms of characteristic compressive strength, crack control and crack bridging (as viewed through Scanning Electron Microscope) have been studied in detail. The results obtained from these different samples have been compared and analyzed together to draw significant conclusions, which helped us to stress upon the advantages of addition of varying percentages and types of carbon powder in concrete.

Bituminous mixes are most commonly used for road pavements. With the increase in traffic volume, the bituminous road pavements are expected to give more strength. The bituminous pavements give satisfactory strength if designed properly. The use of waste polyethylene for road construction as a replacement of limited percentage of asphalt can increase the strength of the flexible pavement and it will also be beneficial for the environment. polyethylene has stronger binding properties than can be used in flexible pavement up to a limited percentage.

Water hyacinth belongs to family Pontederiaceae and is a very remarkable and rapidly growing angiospermic plant, generally found in the freshwater bodies. Cost-effective and efficient control of water hyacinth growth and managing its resources is a challenge in most places where the problem has occurred. The present study identifies the effluents from upstream of surrounding area, immersion of idols of Gods during festivals and dumping of domestic garbage as the principal reasons for the growth of water hyacinth in Futala Lake, Nagpur, and proposes an integrated management plan to control the water hyacinth growth and eliminate the municipal solid waste being dumped in the lake at its source. Various studies have determined that besides having pernicious and inimical characteristics, water hyacinth is a remarkable source of biomass and hence makes good organic compost. The study compares the effectiveness of the mechanical, environmental, chemical and biological water hyacinth control methods in conjunction with other waste-to-compost and waste-to-energy technologies in terms of volume reduction, ease of operations, restrictions and conservations on type of waste processing, quality of compost, odour control, ease of organizing human resources, financial feasibility and uses the technology-specific emission factors in conjunction with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change methodologies to determine the annual greenhouse gas (CO2 eq.) emissions from them. The proposed integrated plan uses the inferences obtained from comparing the technical, financial and operational feasibility of applying different water hyacinth control methods in Futala Lake to make one integrated water hyacinth control and management plan and explains the stepwise procedure to eliminate the water hyacinth problem and control the wild dumps of municipal solid wastes near the lake by using waste-to-compost machines working on the principle of thermophilic decomposition. Thus, with respect to the analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed management and control plan for Futala Lake, the study proposes that similar plans could be used to check the growth of water hyacinth in any freshwater body.

This paper presents a neural network model based on explicit approach using the interrelationship characteristics of direct, diffuse and global solar radiations. The computational algorithm includes the estimation of global, diffuse and direct components through clear sky conditions. The deviations of these estimates from measurements are considered to be due to random weather phenomena characterized by clearness indices. The clearness indices corresponding to direct, diffuse and global components of solar radiation are then mapped with long term monthly mean hourly data of weather-related parameters such as mean duration of sunshine per hour, relative humidity and total rainfall in the artificial neural network (ANN) analysis. The estimates of ANN model exhibit excellent compatibility with observations with overall root mean square error RMSE (%) and mean biased error MBE (%) for the global radiation as 5.19 and −0.194 respectively. The RMSE values for wet months (July, August, September, October) are relatively higher than those of the dry months (January, February, March, April) due to intensive monsoon in Indian region. Contour maps of ANN model calculations of global radiation as a function of latitude, time of the day and month of the year are presented. The model offers promise of being useable for the prediction of direct, diffuse and global components of solar radiation at an arbitrary location. A comparative study of the estimates of present ANN model with NASA surface meteorology and solar-energy data sets exhibits good compatibility. The global solar radiation on tilted planes has also been investigated using isotropic and anisotropic sky conditions. The results seem to be favouring an isotropic model during the year-round cycle at New Delhi (28.58°N).

The objective of this study is to assess the potential of solar energy in a typical building using Geographic Information System (GIS). It also presents the detailed steps required to install solar panels on rooftops of building after assessment. The three step methodology has been adopted. In the first step, solar energy harvesting potential is determined followed by the calculation of electric energy demand in the area. Secondly, the capacity of solar panels and machines are worked out and installation details are calculated. This is followed by the final step of cost-benefit estimation. For a rooftop area of around 6840 m² and weekly AC/DC machine demand of 50 kWh, it was proposed to install 279 solar panel modules. The total capacity of solar power was worked out to be 69.75 KWp with specified production of 1571 KWp/KWh/year. The use of GIS brought down the time and effort and dependability on blue prints of building plan for calculating the study area. Solar power has the flexibility that it can be used anywhere and everywhere. Though the initial set up of solar power generation is costly, it is a viable solution for sustainable operation of the building.

This study explores the potential use of by-products of energy production, i.e., (i) flyash from coal-powered electricity generation and (ii) biogas slurry from agricultural waste treatment, as nutrient sources in agriculture. These residues are available in large amounts and their disposal is a major concern for the environment. As both residues contain considerable amounts of plant nutrients, their use as soil amendment may offer a promising win-win opportunity to improve crop production and, at the same time, preventing adverse environmental impacts of waste disposal. Effect of flyash and biogas slurry on soil physical properties and growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) was studied in a field experiment. Leaf area index, root length density and grain yield of wheat were higher in plots amended with flyash or biogas slurry compared to unamended plots. Both types of amendments reduced bulk density, and increased saturated hydraulic conductivity and moisture retention capacity of soil. The study showed that flyash and biogas slurry should be used as soil amendments for obtaining short-term and long-term benefits in terms of production increments and soil amelioration.

In this paper, a computational model for the prediction of direct solar radiation based on neural network analysis of atmospheric clearness is developed. It considers that the major portion of direct solar radiation reaching the earth's surface is governed by Sun-Earth geometry and atmospheric transmittance factors which are exactly calculable by clear day model. Additional variations are due to climate and weather phenomena characterized by relative humidity, mean duration of sunshine per hour, and rainfall, etc., in the atmosphere. These variations are taken into account with the help of a composite parameter referred to as atmospheric clearness index (CI) which is determined using artificial neural network analysis. The contour maps of CI as a function of latitude, time of the day, and month of the year are then prepared using the meteorological data of eleven stations. Model simulation and test results of the trained network for two typical locations (not used in training the network) are presented and compared with measured values. The deviations are well within acceptable error limits [percentage root mean square error values for Ahmedabad and Nagpur are 3.34 and 2.06, respectively]. The methodology, for predicting the direct solar radiation at an arbitrary location using the well known parameters such as altitude, latitude, time of the day, day of the year, and CI values derived from the contour maps, is discussed. The outcome of the present ANN model for four arbitrary locations is compared with NASA SSE data sets.