Three-Dimensional Physico-chemical Characterization 1 of Coarse Atmospheric Particles from Urban and Arid Environment of India: An Insight into Particle Optics

Aerosol particles scatter and absorb solar radiation and affects earth's radiation budget. The aerosol particles are usually non-spherical in shape and inhomogeneous in chemical composition. For simplicity, these particles are approximated as homogeneous spheres/spheroids in radiative models and in retrieval algorithms of the ground and spaceborne observations. The lack of information on particle morphology (especially shape), chemical composition (that govern their spectral refractive indices) and most importantly internal structure (three Dimensional, 3D spatial distribution of chemical species) lead to uncertainty in the numerical estimation of their optical and radiative properties. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the particles' volumetric composition. The particles were collected from typical arid and urban environments of India and subjected to Focused Ion-Beam (FIB) coupled with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscope (EDS). Particles from the arid environment were observed to be composed of Fe, Ca, C, Al, and Mg rich shell with Si and O rich core opposed to those from urban environment consisting Hg, Ag, C, S and N rich shell with Cu and S rich core. Based on the homogeneous sphere/spheroid assumption, conventional SEM-EDS and FIB-SEM-EDS results, different particle model shapes [single species homogeneous sphere (S1) and spheroid (SPH1); multiple species homogeneously mixed sphere (S2) and spheroid (SPH2); and core-shell (CS)] were considered for simulating their respective optical properties; SSA (Single Scattering Albedo) and g (Asymmetric parameter). The effect of internal structure on SSA was found to be prominent in particles having low value of the imaginary part of refractive index (k). While the same was observed to be low (nearly negligible) for the particle with the high value of “k”. The particles rich in copper are found to be highly absorbing in nature which causes positive radiative forcing

Three-Dimensional Physico-chemical Characterization 1 of Coarse Atmospheric Particles from Urban and Arid Environment of India: An Insight into Particle Optics

Aerosol particles scatter and absorb solar radiation and affects earth's radiation budget. The aerosol particles are usually non-spherical in shape and inhomogeneous in chemical composition. For simplicity, these particles are approximated as homogeneous spheres/spheroids in radiative models and in retrieval algorithms of the ground and spaceborne observations. The lack of information on particle morphology (especially shape), chemical composition (that govern their spectral refractive indices) and most importantly internal structure (three Dimensional, 3D spatial distribution of chemical species) lead to uncertainty in the numerical estimation of their optical and radiative properties. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the particles' volumetric composition. The particles were collected from typical arid and urban environments of India and subjected to Focused Ion-Beam (FIB) coupled with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscope (EDS). Particles from the arid environment were observed to be composed of Fe, Ca, C, Al, and Mg rich shell with Si and O rich core opposed to those from urban environment consisting Hg, Ag, C, S and N rich shell with Cu and S rich core. Based on the homogeneous sphere/spheroid assumption, conventional SEM-EDS and FIB-SEM-EDS results, different particle model shapes [single species homogeneous sphere (S1) and spheroid (SPH1); multiple species homogeneously mixed sphere (S2) and spheroid (SPH2); and core-shell (CS)] were considered for simulating their respective optical properties; SSA (Single Scattering Albedo) and g (Asymmetric parameter). The effect of internal structure on SSA was found to be prominent in particles having low value of the imaginary part of refractive index (k). While the same was observed to be low (nearly negligible) for the particle with the high value of “k”. The particles rich in copper are found to be highly absorbing in nature which causes positive radiative forcing

Insights into coarse particle optics based on field evidence of particle morphology, chemical composition and internal structure

Aerosol particles scatter and absorb solar radiation and affect the Earth's radiation budget. The aerosol particles are usually non-spherical in shape and inhomogeneous in chemical composition. For simplicity, these particles are approximated as homogeneous spheres/spheroids in radiative models and in retrieval algorithms of the ground and spaceborne observations. The lack of information on particle morphology (especially shape), chemical composition (that govern their spectral refractive indices) and most importantly internal structure (three dimensional spatial distribution of chemical species) lead to uncertainty in the numerical estimation of their optical and radiative properties. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the particles' volumetric composition. The particles were collected from Jaisalmer (arid environment) and Delhi (urban environment) of India and subjected to Focused Ion-Beam (FIB) coupled with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscope (EDS). Based on analysis of #2 particles from Jaisalmer, particles were observed to be composed of Fe, Ca, C, Al, Cu and Mg rich shell with Si and O rich core as opposed to those of Delhi particles (no #3) which were observed to be with Cu and S rich core and Hg, Ag, C, S and N rich shell. Based on the homogeneous sphere/spheroid assumption, conventional SEM-EDS and FIB-SEM-EDS results, different particle model shapes [single species homogeneous sphere (SP1) and spheroid (SPH1); multiple species homogeneously mixed sphere (SP2) and spheroid (SPH2); and core-shell (CS)] were considered for simulating their respective optical properties; SSA (Single Scattering Albedo) and g (Asymmetry parameter). The effect of internal structure on SSA was found to be prominent in particles having low value of the imaginary part of refractive index (k). While the same was observed to be low (nearly negligible) for the particle with the high value of k. The particles rich in copper are found to have high light absorbing property which causes positive radiative forcing

Implementation of BIM to improve organizational capabilities

This paper describes a process that an organization can use to develop its organizational capabilities through the use of Building Information Model (BIM). The process involves identifying and tapping the skills of its employees to deliver lean and green projects. This paper aims to identify the various capabilities necessary to effectively implement Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction industry. The study was conducted through a mixed-method approach. It revealed that adopting a BIM adoption culture is necessary for an organization to achieve desired project outcomes. Through a study, the authors of the proposed framework stated that adopting a BIM-based approach can help organizations improve their project outcomes and reduce their carbon footprint. They also noted that it can help them focus on the human factors within their organizations. This paper explores the importance of the social and technical skills of an employee in developing an organization's capabilities to achieve green and lean results

Implementation of BIM to Improve Organizational Capabilities

This paper describes a process that an organization can use to develop its organizational capabilities through the use of Building Information Model (BIM). The process involves identifying and tapping the skills of its employees to deliver lean and green projects. This paper aims to identify the various capabilities necessary to effectively implement Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction industry. The study was conducted through a mixed-method approach. It revealed that adopting a BIM adoption culture is necessary for an organization to achieve desired project outcomes. Through a study, the authors of the proposed framework stated that adopting a BIM-based approach can help organizations improve their project outcomes and reduce their carbon footprint. They also noted that it can help them focus on the human factors within their organizations. This paper explores the importance of the social and technical skills of an employee in developing an organization's capabilities to achieve green and lean results