Air Quality Monitoring (EVSC90033)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2023

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Overview

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The air is an undervalued environmental resource - subject at times to catastrophic and chronic pollution events. 'What constitutes good air?' 'What environmental protections are in place?' and 'How do we know the air quality?' are all questions addressed in this subject. Major infrastructure projects require air quality assessments and emergency/health service providers need to assess air quality data to advise the public. Working with industry professionals working in the air quality space and exploring low-cost sensor technology interfaced with python code students will build their own air monitoring sensor and design an experiment to evaluate the air we breathe - synthesizing the findings into an air action plan.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of subject students should be able to:

  • Describe drivers of air quality
  • Evaluate trace-gas concentrations from diffuse and point source emission fluxes against national standards and health recommendations
  • Describe air monitoring sensor technology and build a low-cost sensor
  • Design and implement a sampling and calibration strategy for air quality monitoring
  • Synthesise air quality observations into an air action plan for a client

Generic skills

  • Environmental monitoring experimental design
  • Data analysis and uncertainty evaluation
  • Oral and written client communication

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Undergraduate degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or equivalent professional experience.

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

Students are recommended to have some knowledge of programming. Python will be used in this course.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Practicals are compulsory and building the low-cost sensor is a hurdle requirement as much of the subsequent assessment relies on using this sensor.

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: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

An in-class test

  • 1 hours
Day 520%

An instrument build. This assessment task is to ensure that a functioning air quality monitor is built from the components provided. We will assess the instrument build, the python code to read the data, and an initial data output

  • 5 pages
Hurdle requirement		Day 820%

A group presentation on the experimental design

  • 10 minutes
Day 1020%

A written report in the form of a Client Report

  • 3000 words
End of the assessment period40%

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

Not available in 2023

Time commitment details

This subject is taught as an intensive subject over 10 days at Parkville campus. Preparation of 20 hours is expected to have worked through the Code academy's Learn Python and prescribed pre-reading circulated 2 weeks prior to the teaching period.

Additional delivery details

This subject is taught through the Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences: https://vieps.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    None

    Recommended texts and other resources

    Code Academy's https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-python

  • Subject notes

    Should be made available to MSc (Earth science), MEnvSc, MEnv, MEng(Environmental) and MEnvEng students.

  • Incidental costs

    A fee is charged for the components of the low-cost sensor that is built by students as a hurdle requirement of this subject. Students can keep the sensor at the end of the subject.

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 4 March 2025