Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2023-2024 (archived)

Module ENGI4597: Environmental Engineering 4

Department: Engineering

ENGI4597: Environmental Engineering 4

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2023/24 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to H100
Tied to H106
Tied to H108
Tied to H211
Tied to H212
Tied to H213
Tied to H311
Tied to H312
Tied to H313
Tied to H411
Tied to H412
Tied to H413
Tied to H511
Tied to H512
Tied to H513
Tied to H711
Tied to H712
Tied to H713
Tied to H811
Tied to H812
Tied to H813

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • This module is designed solely for students studying Department of Engineering degree programmes.
  • This module will give students the knowledge and skills appropriate for a career in environmental engineering, environmental management or further graduate study.

Content

  • Environmental economics.
  • Environmental law and policy.
  • Contaminant transport.
  • Water pollution
  • Wastewater treatment
  • Water treatment
  • Air quality control
  • Geological storage of CO2
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • Uncertainty analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Understand the economic difficulties associated with sustainable development
  • Understand the need to translate ecosystem services like carbon storage and water storage into cost benefit models
  • Understand the strengths and limitations of law and policy with respect to environmental protection
  • Develop simple mathematical models to describe reactive transport of contaminants in the environment
  • Size and design key aspects of wastewater and potable water treatment plants
  • Understand a range of air quality control issues
  • Estimate the CO2 storage capacity of a geological formation
  • Prepare an environmental impact assessment
  • Propagate parametric uncertainty through environmental models.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills in order to apply environmental management principles and methodologies to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems.
  • International and local perspective
  • Cultural awareness
  • Commercial awareness
  • Environmental awareness
  • Earth's natural resources
  • Environmental monitoring and management
  • The role of the professional in society.
Key Skills:
  • Prepare, process, interpret and present data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods
  • Solve numerical problems using computer or non-computer techniques
  • Critical analysis
  • Research capability
  • Engage with the professional world
  • Practical competency
  • Independent learning
  • Numeracy, IT and information skills
  • Opportunity identification.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module content is delivered in lectures and is reinforced by problem sheets, MATLAB programs and worked examples, equipping students with the required problem solving capability.
  • Students are able to make use of staff 'Tutorial Hours' to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. These are sign up sessions available for up to one hour per week per lecture course.
  • A single examination covers all of the lecture material. Written timed examinations are appropriate because of the wide range of analytical, in-depth material covered in this module and allow students to demonstrate the ability to solve environmental engineering problems independently.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Typically 1 per week 2 hours 20
Tutorial hours As required Weekly sign-up sessions Up to 1 Hour 10
Preparation and Reading 70
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Examination 2 hours 100% No

Formative Assessment:

N/A


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University