Introduction into Environmental Engineering

102-0004-00L, 3 credits, autumn semester

Lecturers: P. Molnar, P. Burlando, I. Hajnsek, S. Hellweg, M. Maurer, E. Morgenroth, K. Sperger, R. Stocker, J. Wang

1. Abstract

In this course students are introduced to how environmental problems in the areas of water quantity and quality, waste production and recycling, air pollution control, are formulated and solved with engineering methods. The course makes a connection between the theoretical Bachelor foundation classes and practical topics of environmental engineering in six main thematic areas.

2. Objective

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

• formulate key global environmental problems
  
• develop a systems perspective and solutions to the problems (critical thinking)
  
• identify and solve simple numerical problems in the domain areas
  
• understand why/how we use data/models in environmental engineering
  
• develop own interest in the domain areas and see career opportunities

3. Content

Topics of study:

1. Introduction – description of the Earth System, main stressors, global warming, introduction into the methods and goals of environmental engineering.
2. Water Science & Engineering – definition of the global water cycle and hydrological regimes, surface/subsurface flow equations (advection, diffusion), water resources management, climate change.
3. Resource Management & Recovery – waste management, recycling, resource recovery, lifecycle assessment, water and carbon footprints.
4. Urban Water Technology – water quality parameters, municipal water and wastewater treatment processes and technologies, urban water systems (infrastructure).
5. River and Hydraulic Engineering – hydropower production, flood protection, river restoration, ecological measures at hydropower plants.
6. Air Quality – air quality parameters, main air pollutants, air quality in cities/indoor, emission control, the plume dispersion model.
7. Earth Observation – satellite observation of the Earth System from space, methods, environmental applications (glaciers, forest, land surface change)

4. Literature

• Masters, G.M., & Ela, W.P. (2014). Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science, Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 692 pp
  
• lecture presentations and selected papers