Measuring Dynamics of Ecological Footprint as an Index of Environmental Sustainability at the Regional Level Using Geospatial Information Technology

Abstract

Ecological Footprint (EF) analysis is the spatial measurement of ecological load exerted by the humans on the earth that arises from the concept of sustainability and sustainable use of Earth's resources. A region-based EF study is conducted for Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra (India) campus to improve its sustainability. Highlight of the study is the explicitness of the methodology for determining the EF that incorporates analysis derived from conversion factors mentioned in the Ecological Footprint consultancy publications along with inputs from GIS domain. Questionnaire-based survey from the respondents regarding resource utilization and geospatial enumeration of land use land cover that harbors the population and their resources are the two integral parts of the analysis. Total EF of the institution campus is calculated to be 0.645 gha/ individual. This analysis provides a strong framework for combining efforts in a manner that can communicate the immediate priorities for improving the sustainability strategy of the campus area.