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Monitoring Environmental Impacts (ENEN90028)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Dr Angus Webb
Email: angus.webb@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
The subject has a strong practical component with a five-day field camp during the week before 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: 24 January 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must meet one of the following prerequisite options:
Option 1
Admission into one of the following: MC-ENVENG Master of Environmental Engineering, Environmental specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENG Master of Engineering
AND
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENEN30001 | Environmental Eng Systems Capstone | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Option 2
Admission into one of the following: MC-ENSYSEN Master of Environmental Systems Engineering, 206EC Master of Environmental Engineering, MC-SPATENG Master of Spatial Engineering, MC-ENVSC Master of Environmental Science, Integrated Water Catchment Management specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENV Master of Environment, Waste Management specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENV Master of Environment, Climate Change specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENV Master of Environment, Tailored specialisation informal specialisation in the MC-ENV Master of Environment, Environmental Management and Science specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENV Master of Environment
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
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: 24 January 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
One 2000 word individual report. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 4 and 6 are addressed in this report
| End of semester | 30% |
Within-semester and field camp participation. ILOs 1 to 6 are addressed in these activities
| During the teaching period | 10% |
One 1000 word student/group report due around week 6. ILOs 1, 2, 3 and 6 are addressed in this report
| Week 6 | 15% |
One 1000 word/student group report. ILOs 1 to 6 are addressed in this report
| Due after field camp | 15% |
Two x 15 minute tests distributed around Week 4, Week 7. ILOs 2, 3 and 4 are addressed in these tests
| From Week 4 to Week 7 | 15% |
One 10-15 minute oral presentation. ILO 6 is adressed in this presentation
| During the field camp | 15% |
Last updated: 24 January 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Angus Webb 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 2023 to 22 October 2023 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2023 Census date 31 August 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2023 Assessment period ends 17 November 2023 Semester 2 contact information
Dr Angus Webb
Email: angus.webb@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
200 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
- Completion rate. Students who started their course from 2022 and are in a CSP or receiving a HELP Loan (eg FEE-HELP) must meet the completion rate to continue to receive Commonwealth Support for that course.
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement, and as a fail toward the completion rate, unless there are approved ‘special circumstances’.
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 approximately $380.
Last updated: 24 January 2023
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. These are compulsory and are charged on a cost-recovery basis only
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Course Ph.D.- Engineering Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Environmental Engineering Course Master of Environmental Science Specialisation (formal) Environmental Major Integrated Water Catchment Management Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Major Waste Management Major Environmental Science Major Environmental Science Major Integrated Water Catchment Management Major Tailored Specialisation Major Waste Management - 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
- 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: 24 January 2023