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Air Quality Monitoring (EVSC90033)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2024
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: 30 January 2024
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: 30 January 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An in-class test
| Day 5 | 20% |
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
| Day 8 | 20% |
A group presentation on the experimental design
| Day 10 | 20% |
A written report in the form of a Client Report
| End of the assessment period | 40% |
Last updated: 30 January 2024
Dates & times
Not available in 2024
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: 30 January 2024
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: 30 January 2024