ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ENGINEERING
Syllabus
EN
IT
“Mihelcic e Zimmerman: Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability,Design”, Wiley (2014).
Slides and notes provided by the instructor.
Learning Objectives
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The main objective of this course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of complex environmental problems and of the main legislative and technical measures for mitigating human impacts on the environment.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The students will have understood some of the main environmental pollution phenomena and how they can be addressed from a legislative and technical point of view. To this aim, the students will be provided with scientific and technical background for understanding and discussing complex environmental issues and possible solutions. In addition, the main aims and contents of international protocols, standards and framework directives, as well as of the main procedures and tools developed to manage and assess environmental impacts related to systems, processes or products will be examined.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The students will be able to evaluate the general qualitative state of an environmental compartment, discussing how the identified critical issues can be managed. Besides, knowledge on the above mentioned topics, the students are expected to acquire and master specific technical vocabulary.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS:
The students will have the ability of integrating the knowledge that they will be provided with during the course by the instructor with information they will find independently in reference scientific literature and on the web. In addition, they will select and deepen a currently relevant topic of their interest that regards those addressed during the course and on which they will prepare a group presentation.
On the basis of the knowledge acquired, the students will be able to qualitatively assess different management options for addressing a pollution issues, identifying for each its applicability and specific pros and cons.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
The students will have to be capable of describing in a synthetic and analytical way, using the correct terminology, both some of the main environmental pollution phenomena and also the main management options that can be employed.
Based on the knowledge acquired in the course, the students will be able to form their own opinions on global environmental issues and communicate them effectively. Specifically, they will also have to be able to present in public, in a convincing way employing multimedia such as slides, graphs and videos, a topic that they will specifically investigate.
LEARNING SKILLS:
The learning ability will be assessed through the presentations prepared and discussed by the students during the course and through written and oral exams.
The main objective of this course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of complex environmental problems and of the main legislative and technical measures for mitigating human impacts on the environment.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The students will have understood some of the main environmental pollution phenomena and how they can be addressed from a legislative and technical point of view. To this aim, the students will be provided with scientific and technical background for understanding and discussing complex environmental issues and possible solutions. In addition, the main aims and contents of international protocols, standards and framework directives, as well as of the main procedures and tools developed to manage and assess environmental impacts related to systems, processes or products will be examined.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The students will be able to evaluate the general qualitative state of an environmental compartment, discussing how the identified critical issues can be managed. Besides, knowledge on the above mentioned topics, the students are expected to acquire and master specific technical vocabulary.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS:
The students will have the ability of integrating the knowledge that they will be provided with during the course by the instructor with information they will find independently in reference scientific literature and on the web. In addition, they will select and deepen a currently relevant topic of their interest that regards those addressed during the course and on which they will prepare a group presentation.
On the basis of the knowledge acquired, the students will be able to qualitatively assess different management options for addressing a pollution issues, identifying for each its applicability and specific pros and cons.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
The students will have to be capable of describing in a synthetic and analytical way, using the correct terminology, both some of the main environmental pollution phenomena and also the main management options that can be employed.
Based on the knowledge acquired in the course, the students will be able to form their own opinions on global environmental issues and communicate them effectively. Specifically, they will also have to be able to present in public, in a convincing way employing multimedia such as slides, graphs and videos, a topic that they will specifically investigate.
LEARNING SKILLS:
The learning ability will be assessed through the presentations prepared and discussed by the students during the course and through written and oral exams.
Prerequisites
None
Program
List of main topics
Topic 1 Introduction: overview of environmental sustainability, contamination phenomena in different environmental compartments (air, water and soil), environmental measurements and environmental cycles.
Topic 2 Integrated waste management strategies and technologies. Food waste management
Topic 3 Water quality issue, management and treatment: EU water framework Directive, traditional treatment processes in developed countries and approaches/technologies for the developing world.
Topic 4 Contaminated sites issue, management and remediation strategies. Case of Brownfield regeneration.
Topic 5 Urban air quality issue and treatment strategies; mitigation strategies for global issues: stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change.
Topic 6 Environmental impact assessment tools (life cycle assessment and environmental footprint).
Topic 7 Environmental quality management tools (environmental management systems, EMAS, Eco-label).
Topic 1 Introduction: overview of environmental sustainability, contamination phenomena in different environmental compartments (air, water and soil), environmental measurements and environmental cycles.
Topic 2 Integrated waste management strategies and technologies. Food waste management
Topic 3 Water quality issue, management and treatment: EU water framework Directive, traditional treatment processes in developed countries and approaches/technologies for the developing world.
Topic 4 Contaminated sites issue, management and remediation strategies. Case of Brownfield regeneration.
Topic 5 Urban air quality issue and treatment strategies; mitigation strategies for global issues: stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change.
Topic 6 Environmental impact assessment tools (life cycle assessment and environmental footprint).
Topic 7 Environmental quality management tools (environmental management systems, EMAS, Eco-label).
Books
“Mihelcic e Zimmerman: Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability,Design”, Wiley (2014).
Slides and notes provided by the instructor.
Bibliography
Mihelcic and Zimmerman: Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability,Design” , Wiley (2014).
Aurelio Misiti: Fondamenti di Ingegneria Ambientale, Nuova Italia Scientifica (1994).
Mackenzie L. Davis, David A. Cornwell: Introduction to Environmental Engineering, Second Edition, Mc-Graw-Hill (1991).
Tchobanoglous G., Schroeder E.D., Water Quality, Addison-Wesley (1987).
Slides and notes provided by the instructor.
Aurelio Misiti: Fondamenti di Ingegneria Ambientale, Nuova Italia Scientifica (1994).
Mackenzie L. Davis, David A. Cornwell: Introduction to Environmental Engineering, Second Edition, Mc-Graw-Hill (1991).
Tchobanoglous G., Schroeder E.D., Water Quality, Addison-Wesley (1987).
Slides and notes provided by the instructor.
Teaching methods
Use of blackboards and slides.
Periodic discussion of presentations during the lessons prepared by groups of students to stimulate their participation and the debate on themes of interest.
Possible visit of a wastewater or waste treatment plant.
Periodic discussion of presentations during the lessons prepared by groups of students to stimulate their participation and the debate on themes of interest.
Possible visit of a wastewater or waste treatment plant.
Exam Rules
During the course, two midterm written tests are carried out, which consist of answering to both multiple choice and open questions. The first midterm test concerns the first part of the program (first 11 lessons) and the second, the last part of the program (last 10 lessons). The mark of the written paper corresponds to the average of the marks obtained in the two midterm tests and contributes to 50% of the final mark. Then follows an oral discussion which contributes to 25% of the final grade. Attending students are also required to prepare a group presentation regarding a selected topic together with the course instructor, who contributes 25% of the final grade. To pass the exam, each student must obtain a sufficient grade in each of the three types of assessment.
For students who choose to take the exam during the ordinary sessions, the exam first includes a written test, which consists of answering both multiple choice and open questions and contributes to 67% of the final grade. Then follows an oral discussion which contributes to 33% of the final grade. If the student has participated in one of the group presentations during the course, the presentation grade will be considered for 25% of the final grade and the written exam will be given a weight of 50%, while the oral exam will contribute to 25%. Also in this case, to pass the exam each student must obtain a sufficient grade in each of the types of assessment.
The exam is aimed at assessing the the student's overall preparation, from the ability to link and correlate the course contents to the ability to analyse the course topics and to make independent judgements. In addition, the student's language skills and clarity of exposition are assessed, in accordance with the Dublin descriptors (1. Knowledge and understanding; 2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding; 3. Autonomy of judgment; 4. Learning skills; 5.)
The final grade will take into account by 70% of the completeness of the knowledge acquired and 30% of the expressive abilities and autonomous judgement demonstrated by the student.
The final vote of the exam is expressed in a scale in which the maimum grade is thirty, obtained through the following graduation system:
Not suitable: important deficiencies in the knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited ability to analyse and synthesise, frequent generalisations and limited critical and judgmental skills; topics exposed in an inconsistent manner and with inappropriate language
18-20: knowledge and understanding of the subjects just sufficient with possible generalisations and imperfections; capacity for analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgement sufficient; subjects exposed in a frequently inconsistent way and with inappropriate language
21-23: Knowledge and comprehension of the topics little more than sufficient; ability to analyse and synthesise in sufficient depth; subjects exposed with appropriate language.
24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of the subjects; good ability to analyse and synthesise; not always appropriate language
27-29: In-depth knowledge and understanding of the topics; considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis. Good autonomy of judgement. Arguments presented in a rigorous manner and with appropriate language.
30-30L: Level of knowledge and understanding of the topics excellent. Excellent capacity for analysis, synthesis and independent judgement. Original exposition and appropriate language.
For students who choose to take the exam during the ordinary sessions, the exam first includes a written test, which consists of answering both multiple choice and open questions and contributes to 67% of the final grade. Then follows an oral discussion which contributes to 33% of the final grade. If the student has participated in one of the group presentations during the course, the presentation grade will be considered for 25% of the final grade and the written exam will be given a weight of 50%, while the oral exam will contribute to 25%. Also in this case, to pass the exam each student must obtain a sufficient grade in each of the types of assessment.
The exam is aimed at assessing the the student's overall preparation, from the ability to link and correlate the course contents to the ability to analyse the course topics and to make independent judgements. In addition, the student's language skills and clarity of exposition are assessed, in accordance with the Dublin descriptors (1. Knowledge and understanding; 2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding; 3. Autonomy of judgment; 4. Learning skills; 5.)
The final grade will take into account by 70% of the completeness of the knowledge acquired and 30% of the expressive abilities and autonomous judgement demonstrated by the student.
The final vote of the exam is expressed in a scale in which the maimum grade is thirty, obtained through the following graduation system:
Not suitable: important deficiencies in the knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited ability to analyse and synthesise, frequent generalisations and limited critical and judgmental skills; topics exposed in an inconsistent manner and with inappropriate language
18-20: knowledge and understanding of the subjects just sufficient with possible generalisations and imperfections; capacity for analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgement sufficient; subjects exposed in a frequently inconsistent way and with inappropriate language
21-23: Knowledge and comprehension of the topics little more than sufficient; ability to analyse and synthesise in sufficient depth; subjects exposed with appropriate language.
24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of the subjects; good ability to analyse and synthesise; not always appropriate language
27-29: In-depth knowledge and understanding of the topics; considerable capacity for analysis and synthesis. Good autonomy of judgement. Arguments presented in a rigorous manner and with appropriate language.
30-30L: Level of knowledge and understanding of the topics excellent. Excellent capacity for analysis, synthesis and independent judgement. Original exposition and appropriate language.