Ecological engineering: An introduction to ecotechnology

Book · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6281717

Mitsch, W J; Joergensen, S E ^[1]

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1. eds.

The authors define ecological engineering and ecotechnology as the design of human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both. It is engineering in the sense that it involves the design of this natural environment using quantitative approaches and basing their approaches on basic science. It is a technology with the primary tool being self-designing ecosystems. The components are all of the biological species of the world. H.T. Odum in his book Environment, Power, and Society (1971, John Wiley and Sons, New York) is acknowledged as the developer of this concept. Part 1 of Ecological Engineering consists of seven chapters in which basic concepts are discussed. Four of these chapters deal with examples, principles and underlying theory. The other three chapters discuss ecological modeling, ecological economics and sustainable agriculture. Part 2 of this book presents a series of twelve case studies which are intended to illustrate applications of the principles. Of five case reported four are ongoing and the fifth was a study of the use of estuarine ponds for wastewater treatment. Three other cases, reported by Chinese scientists deal with wastewater treatment, the use of Spartina plantations for land reclamation, and aquaculture. The remaining case studies are either theoretical discussions or reviews.

• OSTI ID: 6281717
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
540210 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
540310 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AGRICULTURE
AQUACULTURE
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
EUTROPHICATION
HOMEOSTASIS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
LAKES
LIQUID WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER