Interdisciplinary Environmental Review (4 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Investigation of Air Qauality Prediction and Analysis Amidst Pandemic Challenges With Indian Science of Agnihotra: ML Based Study for Healthcare 4.0  
  by Rohit Rastogi, Priyanshi Garg 
  Abstract: Globally the novel Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has no specific treatment till date. One of the effective and efficient ways to achieve wellness from illness is to adopt a holistic health approach through Vedic science which is an ancient and revolutionary medicinal method to treat different health issues. In this manuscript, among multiple benefits of Yagya, only pollution control has been considered. The Agnihotra (Yajna with Mantra) was performed in different days and through sensors, the air quality index (AQI) was analysed on different parameters and ML and AI techniques have been applied on collected dataset for prediction of future air quality with help of statistical analysis. It was observed a significant difference in terms of improvement in the AQI of the places not only same days but after few days too of Agnihotra. This research analysis presented here is scientific study for AQI with emphasis on Vedic Mantras and Yagya.
  Keywords: Healthcare 4.0; AI; machine learning; sensor and IoT; Vedic science; yajna and mantra; sensors.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10036489
   
  
• Urban Forests and Carbon Sequestration  
  by Kumari Anjali, Nikhil Kant, Jaswant Sokhi 
  Abstract: Climate change amidst rapid unplanned urbanisation and unsustainable development has taken centre stage amongst the most prominent challenges in today’s world, with greater impacts on the society and economy of developing countries such as India. Forestry activities have gained traction due to huge pollution mitigating potentials which have become a focal point of intergovernmental agencies. Nonetheless, despite studies suggesting that forests play significant mitigation roles, the role of urban forests has not assumed equal significance despite their significant role in sequestering carbon and other various social-economic-cultural-aesthetic benefits. This review primarily focuses on carbon sequestration potentials and methodologies for urban forests. The author(s) reveal that urban forests in general and urban educational institutional campuses in particular can make significant contributions in maintaining and managing GHG emissions and sequestrations to ensure sustainability. These results can provide future direction and ample knowledge for academics, urban planners and policy makers.
  Keywords: campuses; carbon sequestration; climate change; global warming; greenhouse gases; GHGs; urban forests.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10036670
   
  
• Sustainable mobility and the American press: The newspaper coverage of electric vehicles (1995-2015)  
  by Andrea Mangani, Barbara Pacini 
  Abstract: Scholars have long debated about the economy-environment trade-off, for which the economic conditions affect the attention of citizens and mass media towards environmental issues. This paper explores this theme within the American press and studies which factors are associated with the media coverage of electric vehicles (EVs) in four major national newspapers between 1995 and 2015. According to the empirical estimates, the media attention towards EVs shows a weak association with good economic conditions, policy initiatives in support of sustainable mobility, and tenures of Democratic presidents.
  Keywords: electric vehicles; sustainable transport; media coverage; newspapers; time series; panel analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10037637
   
  
• Environmental Crisis in Latin America. Colombia; Dilemmas and Solutions  
  by Sergio Mauricio Paez Arenas 
  Abstract: The world is facing significant environmental challenges. Latin America is a very rich region with valuable resources. Colombia in particular has unique set of conditions that make this environmental crisis more noteworthy. This region has unique flora and fauna and extensive forests and natural resources. Some of the resources are oil reserves, precious minerals, forests and many unique fauna and flora that represent a true treasure to the region and the world. However, all these reach resources are compromised by significant deforestation, lack of the regulations necessary to protect these resources and lastly a unique destruction of these resource by terrorist groups. The challenge (dilemma) for this region is how to create conditions that support the development of industry preserving all natural resources. This region has the opportunity to play a fundamental role in the solution of global environmental problems.
  Keywords: deforestation; extinction; terrorism; illegal mining; policy; exploitation; flora; fauna; environmental policy.
  DOI: 10.1504/IER.2021.10037724