Geoinformatics Approach for Groundwater Prospects and Quality Studies -A Review

ABSTRACT Water is a prime requirement for all the living and non-living processes. On the earth, 71% is water but the availability of useable fresh water for drinking and other purposes is about 2.8%. Out of this 2.8 % fresh water, the share of groundwater is only 0.6% that makes it more pertinent to conservation, preservation, and management. The urbanization, industrialization, and intensive agricultural practices have put further pressure on the available fresh water. The modern techniques like space technology, GIS and GPS have great utility in mapping, monitoring, planning and management of water resources. The temporal satellite data in different spectral bands and on different spatial resolutions make the remote sensing satellite data highly useful for mapping and monitoring of an area. The geographical information system (GIS) has the capability to store, retrieve, edit and represent the data in informative way. The global positioning system (GPS) gives the real time geo-coordinates, path and altitude of desired object or terrain. Thus, the geoinformatics have huge potential for solving the problems of groundwater availability and quality, and there is a need to harness the potential of these techniques for societal benefits to provide water everyone

NANO-/MICRO METALLIC WIRE SYNTHESIS ON GaAs SUBSTRATE AND THEIR CHARACTERIZATION

Nano-/micro wires of copper are grown on semiconducting GaAs substrate using the template method. It involves the irradiation of 8 um thick polymeric layer coated on GaAs with150 MeV Ni ion beam at a fluence of 2E8. Later, by using the simple technique of electrodeposition, copper nano-/micro wires were grown via template synthesis. Synthesized wires were morphologically characterized using SEM and electrical characterization was carried out by finding I-V plot

Track-etch membranes as templates enabled nano/micro technology : a review

Many techniques are being used in order to synthesize nano.micro materials falling under the realm of nanotechnology. It need not be overemphasized that the miniaturization of devices and synthesis of new materials have a tremendous role in the development of powerful electronics as well as material based technologies in other areas but for the laws of quantum mechanics posing limitations besides the increasing cost and difficulties in manufacturing in such a small scale. The quest, therefore, for the alternative technologies, have stimulated a surge of interest in nano-meter scale materials and devices in the recent years. Metallic as well as semiconducting nano wires are the most attractive materials because of their unique properties having myriad of applications like interconnects for nano-electronics, magnetic devices, chemical and biosensors, whereas the hollow tubules are equally considered to be candidates for more potent applications both in physical as well as biosciences. Materials processing for nano-structured devices is indispensable to their rational design. The technique, known as Template Synthesis , using electrochemical.electro less deposition is one of the most important processes for manufacturing nano.micro structures, nano-composites and devices and is relatively inexpensive and simple. The technique involves using membranes ion crafted ones (popularly known as Particle Track-Etch Membranes or Nuclear Track Filters), alumite substrate membranes, besides other types of membranes as templates. The parameters viz., diameter as well as length i.e., aspect ratio, shape and wall surface traits in these membranes are controllable. In the present article a detailed review of this technique using track-etch membranes as templates in synthesis of nano.micro materials including hybrid materials and devices like field-ion emitters, resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) etc. is presented including most of the results obtained in our laboratory.rack-etch membranes as templates enabled nano/micro technology : a review S K Chakarvarti Department of Applied Physics, National Institute of Technology (Deemed University), Kurukshetra-136 119, Haryana, India E-mail : [email protected] of Applied Physics, National Institute of Technology (Deemed University), Kurukshetra-136 119, Haryana, Indi

Radon activity and exhalation rates in coal fired thermal power plants

242-245<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">The combustion of coal in various thermal power plants results in the release of some natural radioactivity to the atmosphere through formation of flyash and bottom ash or slag. This consequently increases the radioactivity in soil, water and atmosphere around thermal power plants. As the radon in the atmosphere (indoor and outdoor), soil, ground water, oil and gas deposits contributes the largest fraction of the natural radiation dose to populations, enhanced interest exhibited in <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">tracking its concentration is thus fundamental for radiation protection, health and hygiene point of view. In the present study, measurements of radon emanation from coal, flyash, soil and water samples collected from five thermal power plants of north India have been made using SSNTDs. The average values of radon emanation at equilibrium in the air volume of Cans above different samples varied from <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">433 ± 28 <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Bq m-3 to 2086 ± 36 <span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Bq m-<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">3 ; mass exhalation rates from <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">13 <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">mBq kg-1 <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">hr-1 to 168 mBq kg-<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">1<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""=""> hr- <span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">1<span style="font-size:12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""=""> and surface exhalation rates from <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">302 <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">mBq m-2 hr-1 to 1482 mBq m-<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family: " arial","sans-serif""="">2 <span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">hr-1 <span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family: " arial","sans-serif""="">. <span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">The measured average radon concentration in the atmosphere of the thermal power plants have been found to vary from <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">558 ± 40 <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Bq m-1 to <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">682± 60 <span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Bq m-3 <span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">. <span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Based upon these values the average annual effective doses have also been calculated. </span

Radiological impact of airborne radon and its progeny in dwellings

157-161 Measurement of indoor radon and its progeny levels was carried out in some typical dwellings made up of baked mud bricks, fly ash bricks, concrete blocks and mud houses using LR-115, Type II plastic track detectors in various districts of Haryana. The Potential Alpha Energy Concentration (PAEC) varied from 4.36 to14.53 mWL; Equilibrium Equivalent Concentration (EEC) of radon varied from 40.33 to 134.40 Bq m-3; annual exposure varied from 0.18 to 0.60 WLM; annual effective dose varied from 0.69 to 2.31 mSv and life-time fatality risk varied from 0.54 10-4 to 1.8 10-4 in the environment of dwellings in various districts of Haryana. The effect of various parameters on radon concentration such as seasonal variation and type of building materials was also studied. The radon concentration in industrially polluted cities like Faridabad, Panipat, Rewari, Yamun Nagar was found to be more. The measured radon and its progeny levels were the highest in winter season. In the measurements, we found that radon concentration was the maximum in fly ash houses. </smarttagtype

Radon exhalation rates from soils and stones as building materials

670-673<span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Building materials are the main source of radon inside houses. The most popular building materials are soil bricks and different types of stones. Radon is released in to ambient air from soil and stones due to omnipresent uranium in them, thus, increasing the airborne radon concentration. In the present investigation. the radon emanated f<span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">rom <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">soil and stone samples <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">collected from locations in Haryana and other surroundings states (Northern India) has been estimated. For the measurement of radon concentration emanated from these samples the authors used ex-sensitive LR- 115 type II plastic track detectors. The radon concentration in soil samples collected from Haryana and Delhi varied from 246 <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">± <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">29 Bq m-3 to 453 <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">± <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">35 Bq m-3 whereas, it varied from 482 <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">± <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">91 Bq m-3 to 689 <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">± <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">84 Bq m-3 in case of' soil samples collected from in<span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> and around some<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" hiddenhorzocr"=""> <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">thermal power plants. For stone samples, the radon concentration varied from 472 <span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">± 39 Bq m-3<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> <span style="font-size:14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">to 905 ± 69 Bq m-3.Based upon the data, the mass and the surface exhalation rates of' radon emanated from them have also been calculated and reported. </span