Applications of integral calculus in environmental engineering

Andres Felipe Zuñiga Nipaz

Cod. 41171106

University of La Salle
Calculate II
Bogotá D.C
2018
Applications of integral calculus in environmental engineering

Andres Felipe Zuñiga Nipaz

Student of Environmental and Health Engineering
Nubia J. Galindo P.
Teacher I calculate II

University of La Salle
Calculate II
Bogotá D.C
2018
 Applications of integral calculus in environmental engineering

The integral calculation, framed in the infinitesimal calculus, is a branch of mathematics in the
process of integration or antiderivation. It is very common in engineering and science; It is mainly
used for the calculation of areas and volumes of regions and solids of revolution. The integral
calculation within the engineering has been very useful to solve problems related to each program of
this. Within the environmental issue, the integrals help the engineer to calculate values such as the
flow of a river, the number of waste within an industry, the amount of carbon particles in the
atmosphere among other types of applications.

One of the applications of the integral in the environmental engineering can be its use within the
estimation of the growth of the trees with respect to a certain time, this calculation would allow the
environmental engineer to know the optimal growth times for a certain tree species that can be used
in the theme of reforestation of a space or land with some type of environmental impact. By knowing
about their growth, a recovery time of the land would be estimated. Quoting an example;

A nursery usually sells a certain shrub after 5 years of growth and care. The speed of growth
and care of those 5 years is given by

𝑑ℎ
: 𝑑𝑡 = 1,5𝑡 + 6 where t (time in years) and h (height):

Sump plants measure 13 cm in height when planted, determine the height after t years.∫ 𝑑ℎ =
𝑡2
∫ 1,5𝑡𝑑𝑡 + ∫ 6 𝑑𝑡 ; ℎ = 1,5 2
+ 6𝑡 + 𝑐

Another application could be within the topic of the calculation of the growth of a population of
bacteria of some specific species, whose purpose would be its implementation in the bioremediation
of industrial chemicals, giving a general formula of the behavior of that species (that is, having a
function that relate growth and time), you could determine what amount of bacteria should be used
to bioremediate a certain amount of chemicals, for example;

It is wanted to cultivate certain bacteria in agar in a square container of 100cm, said bacterium
grows in such a way that after t minutes it reaches an area of A (t) that changes at the rate of:

2 2
𝐴(𝑡) = 0.2𝑡 3 + 𝑡 3 𝑐𝑚2 /𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑜
 f the crop had 2 𝑐𝑚2 area when started, how long will it be in 27 minutes??∫ ℎ (𝑡) =
2 2 5 5 5 5
∫ 0.2𝑡 3 + 𝑡 3 ; h(t) = 0.2𝑡 3 + 𝑡 3 + 𝑐 , where= 2 𝑐𝑚2 ; h(t) = 0.2(3)3 + (3)3 + 2 =
176.96 𝑐𝑚2

The integral calculation also allows the environmental engineer to calculate the population growth of
an animal species, in order to avoid its extinction and allow its conservation, for example;

It is estimated that in one month a population of fish in danger of extinction changes at the
rate of;2 + 5𝑡 2/3 for each individual if the current population is 200 individuals, what was
its population in 8 years?

5𝑡 5/3 5(8)5/3
∫ 𝑃 = ∫ 2 + ∫ 5𝑡 2/3; 𝑝 = 2𝑡 + 5
+ 200; 𝑝 = 2(8) + 5
+ 200; 𝑝 = 248

The integrals have opened possibilities to deduce and calculate numerous aspects that help the
environmental engineer with the completion of their work, improve their forecasts and design
models to implement the integrals more efficiently in order to help the environment and
contribute to sustainable development.