CEG1101 : Environmental Systems (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Paul Quinn
- Lecturer: Professor Thomas Curtis
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The aim of this course is to equip students with a conceptual grasp of the fundamental elements of environmental systems and processes at a variety of scales. The environmental systems include the water cycle, geochemical cycles and ecological processes. The course aims to enable students to place subsequent more detailed modules on hydrology, environmental engineering and sustainability within the context of a sound understanding of the Earth’s fundamental cycles and processes. Students will also learn the basic skills required for characterisation of environmental systems in situations relevant to civil engineers.
Civil Engineering involves interventions in and interactions with environmental systems at a range of scales. This module will train students about hydrological and geochemical cycles and ecological processes both as abstract components of the Earth’s systems and as “forces of power in Nature” that engineers comprehend, characterise and engineer. The module will start with an introduction of the Earth’s ‘grand cycles’, (water, carbon, nutrients etc.) and will develop understanding of how human intervention has modified these cycles and the consequences for climate and natural resources. The course will then focus upon the cycles and spatial scales of most relevance to civil engineers. Thus in the hydrological cycle you will be introduced to analysis of the quantity and quality of water as it moves through the climate system and through catchments including soil, hillslopes, groundwater and rivers. You will learn how to quantify components of the water balance, rainfall, evaporation and runoff. You will learn key concepts, methods and terminology in current use in Civil Engineering and Environmental Management. We will use the carbon and nitrogen cycles as exemplars of geochemical cycling and use them to illustrate key concepts driving both the earth system and engineered biological systems. We will teach you how to characterise key elements within the elemental cycles in the lab and the field. These cycles are mediated by ecological processes at a variety of scales. You will get an engineers eye view of these processes at a macro and microscale and learn how key ecological concepts can be used in engineering design.
Outline Of Syllabus
Introduction to the Earth’s systems
Human interventions in the Earth Systems
Hydrological Cycle
Rainfall
Evaporation and transpiration
Soil water and runoff
Groundwater
River processes
Hydroecology
Generic concepts in ecology
Microbial ecology and kinetics
Pathogen ecology
Carbon Cycle
Organic water pollution
Nitrogen cycle
Eutrophication
Persistent pollutants
Contaminated land, soil and sediments
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 0:30 | 10:00 | Revision for exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 14:00 | 14:00 | Lab report based on field work |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 2 | 3:00 | 6:00 | 3 hours in the field and 3 hours in the laboratory |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Tutorials and coursework support |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 44:00 | 44:00 | Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for a full understanding of material |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Introductory concepts to be taught through stimulating lectures and tutorials that also contain solid engineering content including theoretical knowledge and basic calculations. Fieldwork, sampling and subsequent laboratory is to back up the concepts add local case study in pollution and flooding that must be written up.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 80 | Unseen written examination |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 20 | Report of up to 1000 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Introductory concepts tested through examination of knowledge and basic calculations to be backed by fieldwork that must be written up.
Semester 1 Study Abroad students would be required to submit an essay. This environmental systems essay will require the student to call upon the course material, using examples and case studies. Students will be expected to compose coherent arguments about water and chemical cycling relevant to Civil Engineering. Diagrams, maps and equations should be used to demonstrate key concepts reflecting real world issue such as floods, droughts and pollution. The essay would be a 10-12 page word document.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG1101's Timetable