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Monitoring Environmental Impacts (ENEN90028)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Assoc. Prof Michael Stewardson
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
The subject has a strong practical component with a five-day field camp during the mid-semester break involving student-led environmental monitoring. There is also a semester long project to design and implement an environmental monitoring program supported by weekly practice classes.
Component skills taught in this subject:
- Conceptualising environmental responses
- Selecting and using environmental measurement techniques (considering scale issues)
- Analysis of environmental monitoring data.
This subject is a critical foundation for a career for environmental engineering but is also relevant to civil and other engineering disciplines where environmental impacts of engineering projects must be addressed to ensure sustainable engineering solutions.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Selection of measurement techniques and consideration of measurement scale, conceptualising environmental responses to human activities, environmental sampling and monitoring design, systematic review of causal evidence, statistical analysis of environmental effects, risk assessments for occupational health and safety during environmental field programs.
Intended learning outcomes
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO)
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Identify the practical challenges of conducting environmental observations
- Design an environmental monitoring program to meet the requirements of a client, including conceptualising the environmental system under investigation
- Select environmental sensors, sampling theory and field techniques
- Use and interpret environmental measurements
- Use a range of environmental instrumentation
- Demonstrate team and communication skills.
Generic skills
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation, and solution
- Ability to utilise a systems approach to complex problems and to design and operational performance
- Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large
- Ability to manage information and documentation
- Capacity for creativity and innovation
- Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, as a team leader or manager as well as an effective team member.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Credit points will not be given for either of the following subjects when taking this subject:
421 - 325 Field Data Quisition and Analysis
OR
421 - 525 Field Data Aquisition and Analysis
Recommended background knowledge
Completion of the following subject or equivalent will assist with learning in this subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ENEN20002 | Earth Processes for Engineering | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- One 2000 word individual report (25%) due at the end of the semester, requiring approximately 30-35 hours of work. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 4 and 6 are addressed in this report
- Field camp activities (25%) requiring approximately 60 hours of work in mid-semester break. ILOs 1 to 6 are addressed in these activities
- One 500 word student/group report (5%) due in week 6, requiring approximately 5-7 hours of work. ILOs 1, 2, 3 and 6 are addressed in this report
- One 1500 word/student group report (15%) due after field camp, requiring approximately 15-20 hours of work. ILOs 1 to 6 are addressed in this report
- Two x 15 minute tests (15%) distributed throughout the semester. ILOs 2, 3 and 4 are addressed in these tests
- One 10 minute oral presentation (15%) during the semester, requiring approximately 15-20 hours of work. ILO 6 is adressed in this presentation
Hurdle requirement: Participation in the field camp is a hurdle requirement to pass this subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Michael Stewardson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 48 hours (Lectures: 12 hours per semester; Tutorials: 12 hours per semester; Field camp: 5 days). Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 24 July 2017 to 22 October 2017 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2017 Census date 31 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2017 Assessment period ends 17 November 2017 Semester 2 contact information
Assoc. Prof Michael Stewardson
Time commitment details
200 hours
Additional delivery details
Compulsory five day field camp commencing on Wednesday morning in the week prior to second semester break. Students will be required to pay for their own accommodation and meals costs for duration of camp, estimated total cost no greater than $375.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Downes, B.J., Barmuta, L.A., Fairweather, P.G., Faith, D.P., Keough, M.J., Lake, P.S., Mapstone, B.D. and Quinn, G.P. (2002). Monitoring Ecological Impacts: Concepts and Practice in Flowing Waters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
This subject is centred on a team-based project. Each tutorial group of up to 35 students will design, implement, and train others to implement a number of monitoring programs to detect human impacts on the environment. Tutorial groups deal either with aquatic or terrestrial environments. Within tutorial groups, students form small teams of approximately four to examine a particular environmental impact. During the first eight weeks of semester they develop their monitoring program in stages with guidance from tutors and a one-hour weekly lecture. These teams must coordinate their plans with other teams in their tutorial group to share equipment, data and transport between field sites. There is a five-day field camp scheduled around the mid-semester break. During the field camp the teams carry out and refine their monitoring program, teach other teams their field procedures, and then apply procedures developed by other groups. Results must be compiled during field camp and presented both in oral and written form. Students work individually following the field camp to analyse results and make some conclusion concerning environmental impacts.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Lecture notes. Scientific literature specific to topics selected by each team, texts dealing with monitoring of environmental impacts and in particular:
Downes, B.J., Barmuta, L.A., Fairweather, P.G., Faith, D.P., Keough, M.J., Lake, P.S., Mapstone, B.D. and Quinn, G.P. (2002). Monitoring Ecological Impacts: Concepts and Practice in Flowing Waters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
An industry presentation on one evening of the field camp is given by a practitioner involved with monitoring environmental impacts of engineering projects and this is followed by a discussion and questions session.
The Melbourne School of Engineering OHS officer provides a lecture on the importance of OHS procedures and risk assessment.The field trip will have associated food and accommodation costs.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Environmental Engineering Course Master of Environmental Science Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Information Technology Course Ph.D.- Engineering Major Integrated Water Catchment Management Major Tailored Specialisation Major Waste Management Major Environmental Science Major Waste Management Major Tailored Specialisation Major Environmental Science Major Environmental Science Specialisation (formal) Spatial Major Integrated Water Catchment Management Major Integrated Water Catchment Management Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Environmental) Major MIT Spatial Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Major Waste Management Specialisation (formal) Environmental - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022