Academic Year/course:
2019/20
423 - Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
Syllabus Information
Academic Year:
2019/20
Subject:
28735 - Environmental Engineering
Faculty / School:
175 - Escuela Universitaria Politécnica de La Almunia
Degree:
423 - Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
4 and 3
Semester:
First semester
Subject Type:
Compulsory
Module:
---
1.1. Aims of the course
The subject and its expected results respond to the following approaches and objectives:
Show the basic concepts of analysis of environmental factors and their interrelation among them.
Show the concepts that allow the analysis of the interactions between the activity of the human being and the environment.
Show tools for identification, assessment, mitigation of environmental impacts.
Show the general principles of the tools available for good environmental management.
Introduce the existing basic environmental regulations (European, state and regional).
1.2. Context and importance of this course in the degree
The Environment is a constant concern of our society.
The environmental factors, the interrelation between them, the interactions of the human species with their environment are the object of studies and analysis. One of the major interactions that occur between the human being and his environment is linked to the activity of Civil Engineering.
This course is primarily aimed at training engineers trained to identify the environmental aspects and impacts of the industry, in order to minimize them, prevent them and solve them. For this, it begins by describing and studying the links between the company and the Environment. All the vectors of pollution and environmental technology are studied below for each one of them.
Finally, basic knowledge of environmental management is given (Environmental regulations, Environmental Management Systems, Environmental Impact Assessment) so that the student knows the most useful and effective environmental tools for the industry.
The subject of Environmental Engineering, is part of the degree in Civil Engineering taught by EUPLA, framed within the group of subjects that make up the module called specific training: hydrology and which belongs to the subject of Environmental Engineering. It is a subject of third course located in the second semester and compulsory (OB), with a teaching load of 6 ECTS credits for the training course of Hydrology.
The need of the subject within the curriculum of the present degree is more than justified because being a subject with a strong transversal character influences the approach of the rest of the subjects taught, adding the environmental variable.
1.3. Recommendations to take this course
The development of the subject of Environmental Engineering requires putting into play knowledge and strategies from subjects related to:
- Social Sciences.
- Natural Sciences
This subject is part of the basic training to be completed within this Degree and does not have any regulatory prerequisite nor does it require specific additional knowledge.
Therefore, the above is understood from a formal point of view, although it is necessary to be clear that an adequate training base is needed in the disciplines previously indicated.
3. Assessment (1st and 2nd call)
4. Methodology, learning tasks, syllabus and resources
4.1. Methodological overview
Strong interaction between the teacher/student. This interaction is brought into being through a division of work and responsibilities between the students and the teacher. Nevertheless, it must be taken into account that, to a certain degree, students can set their learning pace based on their own needs and availability, following the guidelines set by the teacher.
The current subject is conceived as a stand-alone combination of contents, yet organized into three fundamental and complementary forms, which are: the theoretical concepts of each teaching unit, the solving of problems or resolution of questions and laboratory work, at the same time supported by other activities.
The organization of teaching will be carried out using the following steps:
Theory Classes: Theoretical activities carried out mainly through exposition by the teacher, where the theoretical supports of the subject are displayed, highlighting the fundamental, structuring them in topics and or sections, interrelating them.
Practical Classes: The teacher resolves practical problems or cases for demonstrative purposes. This type of teaching complements the theory shown in the lectures with practical aspects.
Laboratory Workshop: The lecture group is divided up into various groups, according to the number of registered students, but never with more than 20 students, in order to make up smaller sized groups.
Individual Tutorials: Those carried out giving individual, personalized attention with a teacher from the department. Said tutorials may be in person or online.
4.2. Learning tasks
Involves the active participation of the student, in a way that the results achieved in the learning process are developed, not taking away from those already set out, the activities are the following:
— Face-to-face generic activities:
● Theory Classes: The theoretical concepts of the subject are explained and illustrative examples are developed as support to the theory when necessary.
● Practical Classes: Problems and practical cases are carried out, complementary to the theoretical concepts studied.
● Laboratory Workshop: This work is tutored by a teacher, in groups of no more than 20 students.
— Generic non-class activities:
● Study and understanding of the theory taught in the lectures.
● Understanding and assimilation of the problems and practical cases solved in the practical classes.
● Preparation of seminars, solutions to proposed problems, etc.
● Preparation of laboratory workshops, preparation of summaries and reports.
● Preparation of the written tests for continuous assessment and final exams.
The subject has 6 ECTS credits, which represents 150 hours of student work in the subject during the trimester, in other words, 10 hours per week for 15 weeks of class.
A summary of a weekly timetable guide can be seen in the following table. These figures are obtained from the subject file in the Accreditation Report of the degree, taking into account the level of experimentation considered for the said subject is moderate.
|
Activity
|
Weekly school hours
|
|
Lectures
|
3
|
|
Laboratory Workshop
|
1
|
|
Other Activities
|
6
|
4.3. Syllabus
Topic 1 Introduction to the Environment. Normative
• Introduction. Environment and sustainable development. Concepts.
• Pollution.
• Relationships between Environmental and Economic Social Development.
• Urban Environment.
• Environment and Business.
• Terminology. Concept of Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact.
• Risk Society.
• Environmental Compliance.
Topic 2 Environment and company.
• The liability for environmental damage in the European Union
• The instruments of environmental policy
• The company and the environment
• The greening of the company
• Measure, assess and communicate the environmental performance of the company: The Environmental Accounting Business
Topic 3 Waste.
• Definition and terminology.
• Types of waste.
• Minimization techniques. Audits.
• Ecodesign.
• Changes in the process.
• Recycling
• Disposal or recovery.
• Treatments.
• Deposition.
Topic 4 Environmental Responsibility.
• Definition and terminology 0.-
• Environmental Liability Act (Scope)
• Liability regime
•Obligations and guarantees the operator.
• Sanctions
Topic 5 Air Pollution.
•Structure and composition of the atmosphere.
• Episodes of air pollution.
• Air pollutants.
• Control of air quality.
Topic 6 Noise Pollution
• Physical properties of sound.
• Measurement of noise.
• Sources of noise.
•Noise Maps.
Topic 7 Light pollution
• Properties of light sources.
• Measurement of light pollution.
• Sources of contamination.
• Control methods.
Topic 8 Soil Pollution
Topic 9 Environmental Management Systems.
Practical Contens
Each topic discussed in the previous section, carries associated practical exercises on real cases of application in several companies: engineering, industry and the free exercise of the profession.
4.4. Course planning and calendar
The planning orientation shown below
— Week 1: Topic 1.
— Week 2 and 3: Topic 2.
— Week 4, 5 and 6 : Topic 3 and 4
— Week 7 and 8: Topic 5.
— Week 9 and 10: Topic 6.
— Week 11: Topic 7.
— Week 12: Topic 8.
— Week 13, 14 and 15: Topic 9.
— Week 15: Topic 8.
MATERIAL RESOURCES
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Material
|
Format
|
|
Topic theory notes
Topic problems
|
Paper/repository
|
|
Topic theory notes
Topic presentations
Topic problems
Related links
|
Digital/Moodle
E-Mail
|
|
Educational software
|
Web page
|
The timetables and dates of the final exams will be those published officially at:
https://eupla.unizar.es/asuntos-academicos/calendario-y-horarios
https://eupla.unizar.es/asuntos-academicos/examenes