Designing as an Environmental Engineer

Description

This unit introduces students to inquiry-driven, open-ended approaches to environmental engineering design. As individuals, students determine the state of knowledge around and design solution options available to address real-world examples of a specific, local, environmental engineering problem. Examples of potential problems include the management of the erosion of foreshore areas on the Swan River, or stormwater harvesting and storage to support urban forest expansion in Perth's suburbs. Student teams will develop preliminary and detailed designs implementing solutions to the problem. Students will be guided in planning and phasing their work via a two-tiered assessment process. Students will receive specific training on giving and receiving feedback, particularly on technical writing and drawings. The feedback process will incorporate both peer and instructor feedback. Design outputs will be “typical” for practicing environmental engineers, e.g. environmental impact assessments, management plans, physical/chemical/biological technical design reports, and engineering drawings. Throughout, students will maintain a reflective journal documenting their learning and experiences. They will summarise the main themes in this journal in an assessed written reflection at the end of the semester.