CIVL9010: Semester 2, 2023

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Units CIVL9010 Semester 2 2023 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

CIVL9010: Environmental Engineering

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit introduces students to the role of civil engineers and the historical development of the profession, and relates this to the Code of Ethics - Engineers Australia; impact of engineering on the human and natural environment; energy consumption, resourcing and renewal, dealing with variability in climate; definitions and practice of sustainability; environmental assessment tools and life-cycle analyses. As graduates, students may expect to find themselves in a position which touches upon a wide variety of Engineering fields (including legal, institutional, and environmental considerations). In both small and large firms they could be acting as agents and managers of technology-driven change which has social and environmental impact. Engineering decision-making and problem-solving are made more complex by technical, economic, environmental, social and ethical constraints. The goals of this unit are to introduce students to major problems of environmental deterioration and engage students in active reflection on the role of civil engineers in addressing these issues; to develop the students skills at quantifying the impact of engineering decisions within the broader economic, environmental and socio-cultural contexts; to develop communication skills through participation in group discussions, video production and written report writing. Lectures, group discussions, case problems and projects are all used in teaching and learning in this unit of study.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	CIVL9010
Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	CIVL2010
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Strong calculus knowledge and substantial report writing skills are recommended for success in this subject, as well as the ability to program in MATLAB. Basic understanding of structural mechanics is also an advantage
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Benjy Marks, benjy.marks@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Mani Khezri, mani.khezri@sydney.edu.au
	Benjy Marks, benjy.marks@sydney.edu.au
	Abbas El-Zein, abbas.elzein@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Small test	Energy Quiz In-class quiz	20%	Week 04	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Air Pollution Lab Report Laboratory Report	20%	Week 08 Due date: 22 Sep 2023 at 23:59	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Climate investigation Report on modelling of the climate	20%	Week 10 Due date: 13 Oct 2023 at 23:59	Two pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Sustainability Project Long format report	30%	Week 13 Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 23:59	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Tutorial participation Tutorial prework and participation	10%	Weekly	1 hour per week
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 02	Energy	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 03	Energy	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 04	Energy	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 05	Pollution	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 06	Pollution	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 07	A fieldwork exercise will be performed on the University campus	Practical (5 hr)
Week 08	Climate	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 09	Climate	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 10	Sustainable Systems	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 11	Sustainable Systems	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 12	Sustainable Systems	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 13	Sustainable Systems	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. analyse the role civil engineers play in addressing global environmental problems such as climate change
LO2. interpret scholarly literature in the context of engineering practice
LO3. communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, on technical topics
LO4. apply the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics to environmental problems
LO5. calculate the spread of airborne pollution
LO6. examine anthropogenic climate change including its causes, impacts and implications
LO7. critically appraise environmental sustainability through the prism of system dynamics.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

2021 is the first time this unit has run.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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