CEG2102 : Environmental Systems and Quantification
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr David Milledge
- Lecturer: Professor David Werner
- 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 in a rapidly changing world, using the natural and anthropogenic water cycle as a case study. The course aims to enable students to attend more detailed modules on hydrology, environmental engineering and sustainability within the context of a sound understanding of natural cycles and processes.
Students will also learn skills required for characterization, instrumentation and quantification of environmental systems in situations relevant to civil engineers with a focus on the water cycle. The course will relate to the digital theme of the civil engineering syllabus, addressing data acquisition technologies, informatics, and quantification methods to create environmental metrics.
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 that engineers comprehend, characterise and engineer. The module will start with an introduction of the Earth’s water cycle and will develop understanding of how human intervention has modified this cycle and the consequences for flooding risks, water quality and ecology. The course will then focus upon climate change pressures and the environmental 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 measure and quantify components of the water balance, rainfall, evaporation and runoff in catchment systems. You will learn key concepts, methods and terminology in current use in Civil Engineering and Environmental Management. We will teach you how to instrument the environment, both spatially and temporally, and hence quantify key elements within the water cycle in both the lab and the field. These cycles are mediated by ecological processes at a variety of scales. You will get an engineer’s eye view of these processes at a macro and microscale and learn how key ecological considerations can be used in engineering design.
Outline Of Syllabus
Introduction to the Sustainable Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 6, Safe Water and Sanitation
Health and Safety
Hydrological Cycle and Climate Change
Rainfall, Evaporation, Soil Water and Groundwater Rivers, Runoff, Floods SuDS and NBS Hydroecology
Water quality, ecological and public health considerations
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 17:30 | 17:30 | Revision for and completion of exam. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 16:00 | 16:00 | Lab report based on field work and lab exercise. Determining Ouseburn catchment metrics |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 2 | 3:00 | 6:00 | National Green Infrastructure Facility / Environmental Lab |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Computer Practical |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 1:30 | 1:30 | Rainfall simulator |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Visit to the Ouseburn |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 21:00 | 21:00 | Includes background reading/reading lecture notes for a full understanding of material. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Self-taught materials, videos and small informatic exercises to underpin quantification method. |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Introductory concepts to be taught through stimulating lectures that also contain solid engineering content including theoretical knowledge and basic calculations. Fieldwork, sampling and subsequent laboratory work is used 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 60 | Inspera exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 1 | M | 30 | Group presentation (20 minutes) |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 10 | Skills assessment. Mark is based and academic assessment of professional conduct, such as observing health and safety rules, and contributing to team work. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | Undertaken in class to check knowledge and understanding and to allow students to develop a professional attitude. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Introductory concepts tested through examination of knowledge and basic calculations to be backed up by fieldwork, lab work and quantification methods using informatic tools that must be written up (AHEP: C1, C2, C3, C7). The oral presentation tasks students with the integration of literature and field data and assesses their ability to effectively present and communicate their knowledge gained from the literature review and taught classes as well as team working and task management skills (AHEP: C1-3, C7, C8, C16).
In line with the requirements of the accrediting body students are expected to develop a professional attitude. To meet this skills outcome, participation will be required in core elements of this module (AHEP: C8, C12, C16).
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 pollution. The essay would be up to a 10-12 page Word document.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG2102's Timetable