ENVENG 300 : Natural and Built Environment Processes

Engineering

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Chemical and biological treatment processes. Surface water quality modelling. Soil chemistry. Contaminant fate and transport in soil and groundwater. Contaminated sites remediation. Environmental responsibilities and sustainability considerations.

Course Overview

The course will impart to students an understanding of the principles environmental engineers use to solve environmental issues and challenges.  In this course, we will cover the properties of some common environmental pollutants, the transformation of contaminants in the aquatic and terrestrial environment, and the application of biotechnology to study natural and engineered bioprocesses.  The interdisciplinary knowledge covered in this course will provide a  foundation for designing treatment units/processes and informed decision-making by environmental engineering practitioners. The material will be covered in three modules: surface water quality and modeling, the fate and transport of pollutants in soil matrics, and biotechnology fundamentals and applications.  We will use computational tools to develop numerical models and perform simulations to predict the response of environmental systems to contaminant loading. Students are expected to attend all lectures, tutorials, and computer lab sessions. Assessments consist of individual quizzes, tests, and reports.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ENVENG 200 Restriction: ENVENG 341

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and critically evaluate the use of biotechnology to mitigate the environmental impact of pollutants. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 6.1)
  2. Analyse and evaluate the fate and transport of chemicals in the aquatic environment. (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
  3. Evaluate and apply the principles of groundwater modelling to site remediation and risk assessment. (Capability 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Computer simulation and Laboratories 40% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 15% Individual Coursework
Exam 45% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Computer simulation and Laboratories
Quizzes
Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 12 hours of tutorials, 36 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 66 hours of work on assignments and/or exam preparation. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to complete credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials/labs will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:
- Benedini M. and Tsakiris G. Water Quality Modelling for Rivers and Streams. Springer, 2013 [NS]
- Bruce E. Rittmann and Perry L. McCarty. Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and Applications. McGraw-Hill, 2001 [WQZ]
- Chapra, S.C. Surface Water-Quality Modeling. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. New York, 1997 [NS]
- Deaton M.L. and Winebrake J.J. Dynamic Modeling of Environmental Systems. Springer, 2000 [NS]
- Donald Sparks. Environmental Soil Chemistry, 2nd Edition, Academic Press, 2003 [AS]
- Mackenzie L. Davis and David A. Cornwell. Introduction to Environmental Engineering, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2008 [WQZ]
- Marshall T.J., Holmes, J.W., and Rose, C.W. Soil Physics, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, 1996 [AS]
- Thomann R.V. and Mueller J.A. Principles of Surface Water Quality Modeling and Control, Harper & Row, 1987 [NS]

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The SET evaluation was very positive in 2023.  In 2024, we will focus on making the delivery and assessment of the three modules consistent and a more accurate reflection of student learning in the course.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.