Skip to main content

Module

CEG8101 : Core Concepts in Environmental Engineering

  • Offered for Year: 2022/23
  • Module Leader(s): Professor David Werner
  • Lecturer: Professor Thomas Curtis
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0

Aims

To acquire knowledge and understanding of the physical, chemical, biological sciences which underpin Environmental Engineering and sustainability of the environment.

This module is designed to provide scientific skills and understanding of the key chemical, physical and biological processes appropriate for a practising environmental engineer. Students will gain experience in practical analytical methods for assessing pollution of the natural environment and engineered treatment systems.

Outline Of Syllabus

History of public health engineering and environmental standards
Faecal-oral route of disease transmission (case study)
Chemistry Fundamentals, including chemical pollutants (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite)
Microbiology Fundamentals, including pathogens (E. Coli, Vibrio Cholera, Salmonella Typhi) and biotransformation (nitrification of urea)
Measurement and Analysis Fundamentals, including quality assurance and statistics (Theory and Practical).
Modelling Fundamentals, including mass balance and simple computational methods

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture18:008:008 x 1 hour online module lectures.Prerecorded.
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion129:0029:00Assessed reports on environmental monitoring
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials201:0020:00Lecture notes and online resources e.g. PCaPs/podcats and / or articles. Non-synchronous
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical23:006:002 x 3 hour laboratory practicals. Present in person with alternative synchronous online.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching22:004:00GIS and Data analysis online tutorial. Present in person with alternative of Synchronous online.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork13:003:00Fieldwork practical. Present in Person with alternative synchronous online.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery52:0010:00Lecture notes and online resources e.g. PCaPs/podcats and / or articles. Non-synchronous
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study201:0020:00Includes background reading for a full understanding of material.
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The course introduces the chemical and microbiological principles required for an understanding of environmental pollution through lectures and tutorials. It provides experience in analytical techniques for pollution measurement, and assessment of compliance with regulatory standards. It develops skills in data collection, handling, interpretation and presentation in written form (laboratory report). The laboratory classes are split into smaller groups with demonstrator support to facilitate skills development. Acquired skills are assessed in the laboratory report. The field trip is included to provide practical context for lecture materials.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Report1M100One submission based on environmental monitoring data generated/shared in the lectures, practicals and tutorials (maximum 10 A4).
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Knowledge and skills are assessed by an item of coursework. Coursework assesses skills in planning, organization, literature review, quality assurance and control, data-analysis, interpretation and numeracy, through written presentation of a environmental monitoring report.

Reading Lists

Timetable