This is a presentation from a series related to course LA181 named "Introduction to Environmental Design", Faculty of Environmental Design, King Abdulaziz University.

1. Environment
(Lesson 1 - Part 1 : Natural Environment)
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

2. • Environment is all of the living and nonliving
things that surround an organism.
Animals
Climate
Plants
Economics
Males
Females
Districts
Land Uses
Open Space
Landmarks
Family
Extended Family
Streets
Buildings
……etc.
………etc.
……etc.
………etc.
Definition of Environment
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

3. Basic Types of Environment
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

4. 1. Natural
Environment
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

5. Natural Environment is all living and non-living things
and resources existing naturally on Earth.
This includes:
Animals, Plants, Water, Minerals, Mountains,Valleys,
Lakes, Soil, Rocks,Wind, Humidity, Rain … etc.
Definition of Natural Environment
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

6. Flora
Fauna
GeologySoil Topography
Classification of Natural Environment
Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Biotic Elements
(Living)
Lithosphere
HydrosphereAtmosphere Solar Radiation
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

7. Flora is all plant life occurring in an area or time
period.
• Plants are producers.
• About 260,000 species are discovered.
• Grows up to 100m in height.
• Uses/Benefits: Environmental, Engineering, Medical,
Nutritional, Economical,Aesthetic .
Biotic Elements
(Living)
Flora
Floristic
regions
in Europe
A fossil leaf
48.5 million
years old.
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

8. Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

9. Biotic Elements
(Living)
Fauna
Fauna is all animal life occurring in an area or
time period.
• Animals are non-producers.
• About 2,000,000 species are discovered.
• Grows up to 30m in tall.
• Uses/Benefits: Environmental, Medical, Nutritional,
Economical,Aesthetic .
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

10. Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

11. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Lithosphere:
Lithosphere is the hard and rigid
outer layer of the Earth.
• Thickness: 100-120km
• Constitute 12 moving plates
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

12. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Lithosphere:
Soil is made of broken rocks and decaying
organic matters.
Soil
• Particles size: Sand – Silt – Clay
• Water Drainage /Water Holding
• Soil Composition
• Why soil test?
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

13. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Lithosphere:
Topography

14. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Lithosphere:
Topography Topography is the landform of an area.
• Topographical map is a graphic representation of the
landform on a map.
• Contour line – Contour interval - Spot Elevation
See the 3D Model
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

15. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Lithosphere:
Topography
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

16. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Lithosphere:
The science that study the solid / liquid matters
that constitute the Earth.
Geology
• Composition, structure, physical properties, dynamics,
history of earth materials, and the processes by which they
are formed, moved, and changed.
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

17. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Hydrosphere is all waters of the Earth.
• 71% of the earth’s surface.
• Sea water, springs, lakes, rivers, aquifers, glaciers, water
vapor, soil moisture…
• Water Cycle
• Regulates earth’s temperature.
Hydrosphere
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

18. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Atmosphere is the gases surrounding the Earth.
• 78% N2, 21% O2, and the rest is mostly water vapor
and CO2.
• Benefits: Provides weather, Protects earth from
shooting stars and ultraviolet, essential for respiration.
Atmosphere
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

19. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Solar radiation = Light + Heat Energy
• Atmosphere reflects 40% and absorb 15% of solar
radiation. 45% is received by earth.
• Re-radiation
• Greenhouse effect and global warming
Solar
Radiation
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

20. Abiotic Elements
(Non-Living)
Solar Radiation
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Climate
Climate is Climate is the average weather
conditions at a particular place over a long
period of time.
• Includes temperature, wind, humidity, rainfall,…etc.
• Based on latitude, terrain, altitude, as well as nearby
oceans and their currents.
• Climate vs.Weather
• Types include: Equatorial,Tropical, Polar, Desert…etc.
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani

21. Ecological System (Ecosystem) is a balanced
system of interactions among biotic elements
and between them and their surrounding
abiotic elements.
Ecosystems in Natural Environment
Abiotic
Elements
Biotic
Elements
Tropical RainforestDesert
Aquatic Polar Grassland
U r b a n
• Examples for different types of ecosystems:
Prepared by Dr. Farouk Daghistani