Environmental
Division (ED)
Research Programmes
| Project title
:
Environmental Status on the Use of
Dune Sand as an Alternative to River Sand
|
Research category :
Environmental studies related to construction sector
Time frame:
Aug 2000 to March 2001
Funding status:
Total allocation: Rs 300 000
Allocation for year 2000: Rs 125 000
Anticipated finance for year 2001; Rs. 175 000
Agency; 100% from GOSL under the Public Investment Program
National concerns and project interface: Extraction of river sand for building industry, at present is major national concern as it has resulted in several interlinked environmental problems such as salinity intrusion, change in river morphology and flow, water quality and salinity intrusion etc. Promotion of research on finding suitable resources for river sand has been nationally recognized based on the recommendations of National Sand Studies phases I and 11.
The building materials division of NBRO set up an investigation to select suitable alternative sand resources and found that sand dunes located in the sea shore has a high material potential as a suitable alternative for river sand. Accordingly several sites were mapped to obtain the resource extent in the Puttlum area and the special environmental studies unit of the Environmental division is carrying out an initial environmental analysis of the use of selected dune sand sources.
Project implementation :
by the Special Environmental Studies Unit
Research goal :
The study intends establishment of required scientific environmental knowledge to achieve environmentally sustainable resource extraction.
Research description :
The environmental analysis covered the following
- Environmental values of the dune sand
- Resource extent and current level of human intervention
- Site specific Initial environmental investigation of the dune sands selected for the extraction
- Environmental related legal frame work for the extraction of dune sand
- Recommendation for mitigation of environmental impacts
|
Project title :
Colombo Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (CAMP) |
Research category :
Environmental Quality Monitoring and Modeling
Time frame:
Continuous since December 1986
Funding status:
Equipment - from World Bank funds- under Colombo Urban Transport Project
Recurrent Expenditure - Ministry of Forestry and Environment through Central Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka
(3.5 million Sl rupees per annum).
National concerns and project interface: With the introduction of open economy to the country and the improvement of infrastructure facilities available in Colombo, most of the development programs were concentrated in the City of Colombo and its sub -urbs. knowing this situation, the "Clean Air 2000" Action Plan Committee recognized the importance of a comprehensive ambient air quality-monitoring programme in Sri Lanka. As an initial step, two fixed and one mobile ambient air quality monitoring laboratory units were set up in December 1996 in Colombo with the assistance of the World Bank though its "Colombo Urban Transport Project". These stations are identical to each other and can monitor ambient SO2, NO, NO2, Nox, CO,) PM 10 and meteorological parameters such as WD, WS, VWS, SR, ATE and RF continuously.
One of the two fixed stations is located at Fort to function as a peak station with respect to air pollution while other is located, at Meteorological Department, Baudhaloka Mawatha, to monitor background air pollution in Colombo, The mobile laboratory is used in island -wide programs and consultancy activities as needed.
Project implementation :
The Air Quality Studies Unit
Research goal :
Establishment of a Continuous ambient air quality monitoring system in Colombo
Research description :
The program continuously study the air pollution trends in Colombo and monitoring data are transferred to the Central Environmental Authority in weekly and monthly basis and also disseminated through Internet www.naresa.ac.lk/nbro/. These data are also being used for various research activities to quantify and predict the impacts of air pollution. Under the same program, locations have been identified within Colombo to start a comprehensive monitoring programme using the mobile laboratory in next year.
- Correlate ambient air pollution with pollution sources
- Study the feasibility of introducing air pollution management model to Colombo
- Study and predict the air pollution impacts to the human health , terrestrial
environment including bio diversity and made structure
|
Project title:
Develop a Comprehensive, Cost Effective
Ambient Air Quality-Monitoring Network for the Colombo Urban Area
|
Research category :
Environmental Quality Monitoring and Modeling
Time frame:
36 months from Jan 2000 to 2002
Funding status:
Total allocation: Rs 4.8 m
Allocation for year 2000: Rs 1.55
Granted finance for year 2001; RS 3.0 m
Granted finance for year 2002; Rs 0.025 m
Agency; National Research Council , Sri Lanka
The staff salaries are covered by the GOSL under PIP grant: Rs 200 000
National concerns and project interface:
Ambient air in many cities of Sri Lanka is no longer clean due to the fact of continuous contamination of air with various air pollutants. Especially in Colombo, the ambient air quality is severely impaired causing several health hazards and environmental impacts at local as well as global level.
Emissions from industries and the vehicular traffic are considered as the main sources of air pollution in many countries. A similar situation in the cities of Sri Lanka has been well recognized by the GOSL and consequently the Clean Air 2000 action plan established to bring forward the implementation of an air quality management system with the aim to improve the air quality.
The Environmental Division of NBRO has been identified for the monitoring of ambient air quality under the Clean air 2000 and the cabinet approval has been granted for the same . The division, identifying the need for comprehensive economical methodology to assess the current status of air quality impairment, has commenced a detailed project on establishment of a cost effective ambient air quality-monitoring network for Colombo Urban Area.
Project implementation :
by the Air Quality Studies Unit
Principal investigator: R P Samarakkody
Co investigator: HDS Premasiri
Research goal :
Setting up a cost effective continuous air quality-monitoring network for Colombo Urban Area
Research description :
The program intends to cover the following:
- Capturing ambient air quality in the Colombo urban area by setting up of up to 60 low cost passive sampling units each representing area between1 to 1.5 sq Km area and different land uses. These locations will be selected based on region specific location selection criteria.
- The lab scale passive sampling methods will be developed to field level and will be utilized to monitor SO2, NO NO2 and acid rain in the ambient environment. About 8 locations will be monitored for the same with currently available active automated ambient air pollution monitoring facility. These would serve as reference stations of the same program.
- Furthermore the study intends providing required scientific knowledge in diffuse and point sources of air pollution in the region.
Back |
