This book explores an expansive range of contemporary topics, including advanced wastewater treatment methods, solid waste management strategies, groundwater contamination modeling, and innovative monitoring of emerging pollutants. The proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovation and Sustainability in Civil Engineering: Shaping Tomorrow’s Infrastructure (ISCESTI—2025), held from May 14–16, 2025, at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna, features a compelling volume dedicated to Environmental Engineering. This book brings together a diverse array of cutting-edge research, practical solutions, and visionary perspectives addressing critical environmental challenges through the lens of civil and environmental engineering.
Groundbreaking studies presented herein utilize modern tools such as artificial intelligence, remote sensing, electrochemical processes, and bio-based technologies to enhance sustainability and efficiency in environmental systems. Key themes include prediction and risk assessment of groundwater contaminants (e.g., fluoride, arsenic, and nitrates), solid waste valorization and management, GHG emissions from municipal systems, and reuse of treated effluents. Additionally, papers investigate the environmental impact of industrial activities, nutrient recovery, and eco-material development such as biodegradable packaging and bio-toilets. A special emphasis is laid on circular economy frameworks, e-waste governance, and public health implications of pollution and micro-plastics. This book serves as an invaluable reference for researchers, environmental engineers, policy-makers, and practitioners engaged in developing sustainable and resilient environmental systems. This book underscores data-driven approaches, scalable technologies, and policy-relevant insights, aligning with global sustainability goals and the urgent need for environmentally responsible civil infrastructure.

Prof. Nityanand Singh Maurya joined the Department of Civil Engineering at the National Institute of Technology  Patna in 2006. Prior to this, he worked as an examiner of Patents and Designs at the Delhi branch of the Patent Office under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. He also gained valuable experience in the construction industry before transitioning to academia. Prof. Maurya holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Itanagar, and earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. During his doctoral studies, he received the prestigious DAAD fellowship, allowing him to conduct part of his research in Germany. His research interests span water treatment and supply, industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, human excreta management, energy recovery from waste, and the estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater and solid waste systems.

Dr. Bhabani Shankar Das is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the National Institute of Technology  Patna, specializing in Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering. He obtained his B.Tech. degree from ITER, Bhubaneswar, and subsequently completed his M.Tech. and Ph.D. from NIT Rourkela. During his doctoral research, he was associated with a UKIERI-funded project on non-uniform flow modeling in compound channels, where he developed strong expertise in both experimental and computational hydraulics. His research interests encompass fluvial hydraulics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), scour depth modeling, river confluence dynamics, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in water resources engineering. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed research publications and has presented his work at several international conferences. Dr. Das is an active reviewer for reputed peer-reviewed journals and has reviewed more than 120 research articles across multiple international journals. Since 2024, he has been serving as a member of the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports, where he has handled over 40 research manuscripts. He has also contributed significantly to the academic community through leadership roles at international conferences. He served as a Session Chair at the IAHR-sponsored international conference RiverFlow 2024 held at the University of Liverpool, UK, and as a Keynote Speaker and Session Chair at HYDRO International 2025, held at NIT Rourkela, India.

Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal is a professor of Environment Health at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. He holds a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and previously served as a scientist at the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Dr. Khaiwal has established himself as a leading researcher in field of environmental health, with over 200 published articles including original research papers, reviews, and book chapters. His work has been cited over around 20,000 times with a HIRSCH factor of 65. Dr. Khaiwal was the key person in developing the ‘Health Adaption plan for diseases due to Air Pollution and Climate Change’, including infographics under the National Programme on Air Pollution and Climate Change, adopted by the Ministry of Health, India. He is serving as a nodal officer of the Center for Excellence on Air Pollution and Climate Change under the Prime Minister’s Council of Climate Change. He is ranked among the top 0.05% of researchers worldwide and leads national initiatives in field of environment health. Dr Khaiwal is globally recognized for translating complex science into effective policy and public communication.