Environmental Impact Measurements: Tool and Techniques. L. M. T. Martínez et al. (eds.), Handbook of Ecomaterials.

Abstract

The ecosystem provides various services such as regulation, support, provisions and culture to living beings on the earth. The productivity of a system is greatly affected by the health of the different components and the level of contamination in it. Increasing industrialization and reduced sources of natural resources for safe use by the growing population leads to poor productivity of ecosystems. Environmental impact assessment is a current need for the sustainable survival of human being on earth. The increasing industrialization and population, as well as mismanagement of natural resources, are creating environmental threats. Nowadays people are more worried about natural calamities and the substantial reduction of environmental quality worldwide. Many techniques are available to assess and determine environmental factor intensity and quality at any given time. Therefore, the use of modern technologies in this field can be a viable option to warn of natural calamities and to save or effectively manage human life and natural resources. Most developing countries today need to execute environmental policy and effective guidelines, and provide the infrastructure, to accurately assess environmental effects on natural resources and the ecosystem's different biogeochemical cycles. Spreading awareness among people through governments and nongovernmental organizations also has a valuable place in combating the incidence of natural calamities and the deterioration of environmental health.