Introduction to Infrastructure: An Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering

Chapter Two

The Natural Environment

Chapter Outline

• Introduction
• Hydrologic Cycle and Hydrologic Budget
• Watersheds
• Rivers
• Habitat/Native Species
• Wetlands
• Geologic Formations
• Groundwater
• Atmosphere
• Climate Change
• Outro

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Describe the hydrologic cycle, and explain the function of wetlands, rivers, and groundwater.
2. Explain the hydrologic budget and define recurrence intervals.
3. Delineate a watershed.
4. Describe the fundamentals of geologic formations.
5. Summarize the interrelationships between infrastructure and land, water, and air.
6. List the potential impacts of climate change on infrastructure.

Introduction

Our infrastructure (the built environment) is inextricably linked to the natural environment. Not only is the natural environment affected by the built environment, but the natural environment is in many ways a critical component of the infrastructure. The materials that we use to build infrastructure come from the natural environment. We build on (or below) the earth's surface. We utilize rivers for transportation and drinking water. We tunnel through soil and rock.

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce you to the aspects of the natural environment such that you can understand the interrelationship between the environment and the infrastructure. As such, this chapter provides context for the following chapters.

Hydrologic Cycle and Hydrologic Budget

A substantial portion of civil and environmental engineering ...